Jerome H. Turner of Springfield, Mo. died peacefully at the age of 89 on February 20, and will be missed by family and friends. Mr. Turner was born on October 17, 1922 in St. Louis, Mo. He graduated from McBride High School in 1941, then attended Washington University before enlisting in the U.S. Army Air Forces. Mr. Turner was a highly decorated veteran of WW II. He flew eighty-one missions as a lead bombardier for the 15th Air Force based in Italy. During this time he received the Distinguished Flying Cross with Oakleaf Cluster, the Air Medal with two Oakleaf Clusters, and Bronze Star with three Oakleaf Clusters.
He married Mildred Fischer in May 1944 at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in St. Louis, with the couple setting up housekeeping in Jennings, Mo. Mr. Turner worked in sales for many years in the St. Louis, Peoria, Cleveland, and Chicago areas before finally returning to St. Louis (Florissant) and starting his own Manufacturer’s Representative company. He was also a long-time resident of Terre du Lac, a golfing community south of St. Louis. He is preceded in death by his parents, Henry Turner and Christine (Stamer) Turner, and his wife of fifty-one years, Mildred (Fischer) Turner. He is survived by son Dennis (Kathy) Turner, Huntsville Ala.; daughter Donna (Lawrence) Merritt, Nixa Mo.; daughter Debra (Curtis) Padgett, Springfield, Mo.; son Michael (Terianne) Turner, St. Louis, Mo.; daughter Michelle Turner, St. Louis, Mo. and sister Betty Reynolds, Florissant, Mo. He is also survived by seven grandchildren, four great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.
Memorials may be sent to Holy Trinity Catholic Church, 3519 N. 14th St., St. Louis, MO 63107. Interment will be at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery in St. Louis. A special thanks to The Waterford Retirement Community in Springfield for their caring concern.
Graveside services with full Military Honors will be at 1:00 P.M. Friday, February 24, 2012 in Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery, St. Louis, Missouri. Arrangements are under the care of Greenlawn Funeral Home East. Online condolences may be made at www.greenlawnfuneralhome.com.