October 8, 2010

SUFFOLK — Dr. Thomas W. Turner (Capt., U.S. Navy, Retired), 86, passed away Oct. 8, 2010, at his beloved Shibui Ni Farm in Suffolk. He was preceded in death by his parents, the Rev. Grover Turner and Daisy Moses Turner.

Dr. Turner was born in Louisville, Ky. on March 22, 1924, and grew up in Danville. After graduating from George Washington High School, he attended Averett College. He graduated from the University of Richmond in 1947, received his medical degree from The Medical College of Virginia in 1952, and his MPH degree from Harvard School of Public Health in 1957. Dr.

Turner served in World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. During that tenure, he served his internship at the U.S. Naval Hospital, Bethesda, Md. He did his residency at the School of Aviation Medicine, Pensacola, Fla.

He served as Flight Surgeon — First Marine Air Wing, Korea; and a residency at Aerospace Medicine — Harvard School of Public Health. He was the senior medical officer aboard the U.S.S. Hancock, the Assistant Medical Officer — NAS Alameda, Calif. He served as Wing Surgeon — First Marine Air Wing, Vietnam. From 1965-1975 he was Senior Medical Officer — NAS Oceana; Wing Surgeon — Fleet Air Wing Atlantic, Force Surgeon — ComPhibLant, and Force Surgeon — ComServLant. Dr. Turner was medical director for the Southern Training Center from 1976-1990.

He also served as medical director for the Virginia Correctional Medical System, Norfolk and Virginia Beach, from 1990 to 1991.

Dr. Turner spent the last 30 years on his farm with his wife Pamela, breeding and training Arabian sport horses. He had a wonderful sense of humor and a very dry wit. A quiet man, he was a deep thinker who absorbed all the world had to offer him. He will be truly missed by all those who knew him.

Dr. Turner leaves to mourn his passing, his wife Pamela Miller Turner. The family wishes to express their gratitude to all those who reached out to care for him during his illness.

A funeral will be conducted by the Rev. Jerry Holcomb on Monday at 6 p.m. in the R.W. Baker & Co. Funeral Home & Crematory, 509 W. Washington St. The family will receive friends from 4 to 6 p.m. prior to the service. The burial with full military honors will be conducted Tuesday at 2 p.m. at Albert G. Horton Jr. Memorial Veterans Cemetery, 5310 Milners Road.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Suffolk Humane Society, P.O. Box 5038, Suffolk, VA 23435. Condolences may be registered at www.rwbakerfh.com.