Thomas A. Turner

Thomas A. Turner, Jr. was a difference maker. Yesterday, December 13, 2013, he passed away at Owensboro Medical Regional Hospital. He was 78. As a Christian, husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, mentor, teacher, coach, church leader, musician, craftsman, veteran, lover of his community and his fellowman, Tom Turner used the caring but straight forward personality that caused some to refer to him as The Hammer to support, encourage, challenge and better all those around him. More than one child, student, athlete, prisoner, friend, or acquaintance has been motivated by the Tom Turner admonition of "suck it up, sissy". Far more than one has been the better for it.

Tom was born in Hawesville and graduated from Hancock County High School, where he played basketball, just after turning 17. He enrolled at Kentucky Wesleyan College which he attended until joining the Air Force during the Korean War. During his time in the service, 59 years ago, he married Janet Faye Bryant and they began their family. Following his discharge, Tom enrolled at Murray State University and after two years graduated with bachelor's degrees in both mathematics and physical education. He was then a teaching fellow at the University of Illinois as he pursued a master's degree. He finished his Master plus degree at Western Kentucky University.

Returning to Owensboro, Tom began his teaching career at what was then Southern Junior High School where he taught Math and P.E. and coached basketball. His career then took him to Owensboro High School where he taught and coached junior varsity basketball. Following his retirement in 1995, he coached with Mike West at Daviess County High School until 1998. Throughout much of his teaching career, he spent his summers working on highway design with Johnson, Depp, and Quisenberry.

Tom was an active member of First Baptist Church. He served as a deacon and started the Inspiration Sunday school class for young adults which he taught for 25 years, with neither he nor the class remaining entirely young. Tom sang in the church choir and with The Redemptions, a gospel quartet.

Tom and Janet loved to play golf, a frequent late afternoon time they enjoyed together at Windridge Country Club. His enthusiasm for golf led him to the Golfsmith School in Texas and a new pursuit of creating custom golf clubs.

His role in the community was multi-faceted. He sang with the Owensboro Choral Society in their annual production of Handel's Messiah, having served on and as chairman of the Oratorio Committee. It was more than singing. The proceeds from the performances went to the Goodfellows Club, helping to provide Christmas presents for children who might not otherwise have them. Tom served on the Owensboro Parks board, the former Owensboro-Daviess County Hospital Rehabilitation board of directors, was instrumental in starting area Fellowship of Christian Athletes groups, and was a coach for the Kentucky Tomboys softball team.

Tom Turner was dedicated to his role as an assistant chaplain at the Daviess County Detention Center. He recognized the human worth of those with whom he came into contact there and worked tirelessly to lead them to Jesus Christ and to turn their lives around. He received the Beacon Award for his work there and was involved with Fresh Start which worked for the acclimation of those coming out of incarceration.

Tom was preceded in death by his parents, Thomas Arthur and Emaline Fuqua Turner, and a sister, Dorothy May Church.

He is survived by his wife, Janet Turner; his sons, Thomas A. Turner, III and his wife Kathy and Timothy Bryant Turner; his grandchildren, Ashley Hughes, Amber Turner, Thomas A. Turner IV, Rebecca Lynn Porter and her husband Sam, and Timothy "T.J." Bryant Turner, Jr.; and nine great-grandchildren, with everyone living in Owensboro; and his sister, Jeanette Mattingly of Tulsa, OK.

The funeral service will be at 11:00 a.m. Tuesday at First Baptist Church. Visitation will be at Glenn Funeral Home and Crematory from 2:00 until 8:00 p.m. Monday and after 9:00 a.m. Tuesday at the church. Burial with military honors will be in Elmwood Cemetery. Expressions of sympathy may take the form of contributions to Good News Jail and Prison Ministry 3337 US Hwy 60 East Owensboro, KY 42303.