Obituary for Russell D. Turner Jr.
Russell D. Turner Jr.
10/21/1938 – 02/10/2021
Russell D. Turner, Jr. (Russ), 82, died peacefully on Wednesday, February 10, 2021, with his beloved wife, Donna Jean at his side. He was born in his grandmothers home in South Charleston, West Virginia on October 21, 1938. Russell moved to Texas with his family in 1946 and eventually settled in The Woodlands, Texas.
Russell was preceded in death by his parents, Russell D. Turner Sr. and Lena Berry Turner. He is survived by his loving wife of 53 years Donna Stephens Turner. Russell is also survived by his sister Nina Milligan, brother Robert Turner and wife Kathleen, his children Charles Turner and partner Sandra Milner, Donna Jolene Turner, Jacque Turner Johnson and husband Johnnie, and Rose Turner Lawhon and husband John. Russell has 15 grandchildren, 17 great grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.
Russell (Russ) started his early working career as a disc jockey for a radio station in Port Arthur, TX and continued as a disc jockey in Oak Hill, West Virginia for a local radio station. He then began emceeing a local teen dance show on TV in the same city. He moved to Houston, TX in 1961 and went to work for KPRC TV (Channel 2) as an audio engineer. At that time the studio was in a Quonset Hut on Post Oak Rd. While at Channel 2 he worked on many of the NASA Space Shots. He also had many opportunities to work with Hollywood and local celebrities at the annual Muscular Dystrophy Telethon. Russ worked many of Channel 2’s remote coverage events including the Pope’s visit to Denver, Colorado and almost all of the local football broadcasting.
His family was the first love of his life with radio and TV coming in as a close second. Russ also had a great love of genealogy and photography which he shared with anyone who would listen to him and view his pictures and slide shows of his children and his travels. He loved photography so much, he built a dark room in the house to develop his own film. TV was his life’s work and adventure and he would not have had it any other way. Russ retired in 2009 after 49 years with KPRC TV.
A Memorial will be held on Friday, March 19, 2021 at 11:00am at The Woodlands United Methodist Church-2200 Lake Woodlands Dr., The Woodlands, TX 77380.
In lieu of customary remembrances, the family requests donations be made to a charity of your choice.
10/21/1938 – 02/10/2021
Russell D. Turner, Jr. (Russ), 82, died peacefully on Wednesday, February 10, 2021, with his beloved wife, Donna Jean at his side. He was born in his grandmothers home in South Charleston, West Virginia on October 21, 1938. Russell moved to Texas with his family in 1946 and eventually settled in The Woodlands, Texas.
Russell was preceded in death by his parents, Russell D. Turner Sr. and Lena Berry Turner. He is survived by his loving wife of 53 years Donna Stephens Turner. Russell is also survived by his sister Nina Milligan, brother Robert Turner and wife Kathleen, his children Charles Turner and partner Sandra Milner, Donna Jolene Turner, Jacque Turner Johnson and husband Johnnie, and Rose Turner Lawhon and husband John. Russell has 15 grandchildren, 17 great grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.
Russell (Russ) started his early working career as a disc jockey for a radio station in Port Arthur, TX and continued as a disc jockey in Oak Hill, West Virginia for a local radio station. He then began emceeing a local teen dance show on TV in the same city. He moved to Houston, TX in 1961 and went to work for KPRC TV (Channel 2) as an audio engineer. At that time the studio was in a Quonset Hut on Post Oak Rd. While at Channel 2 he worked on many of the NASA Space Shots. He also had many opportunities to work with Hollywood and local celebrities at the annual Muscular Dystrophy Telethon. Russ worked many of Channel 2’s remote coverage events including the Pope’s visit to Denver, Colorado and almost all of the local football broadcasting.
His family was the first love of his life with radio and TV coming in as a close second. Russ also had a great love of genealogy and photography which he shared with anyone who would listen to him and view his pictures and slide shows of his children and his travels. He loved photography so much, he built a dark room in the house to develop his own film. TV was his life’s work and adventure and he would not have had it any other way. Russ retired in 2009 after 49 years with KPRC TV.
A Memorial will be held on Friday, March 19, 2021 at 11:00am at The Woodlands United Methodist Church-2200 Lake Woodlands Dr., The Woodlands, TX 77380.
In lieu of customary remembrances, the family requests donations be made to a charity of your choice.