Ben graduated from Northwest High School in 1968. He then attended Tarleton State University, and North Texas State University. Ben worked at Braniff Airlines and then enlisted in the United States Naval Reserves in 1968. He went on active duty in the regular United States Navy in 1972. After retirement from the Navy in October of 1993, he attended Locklin Technical Center in Milton, FL and received his Accounting Certificate. He also attended the University of West Florida in Pensacola, FL and received his Associates Degree in Accounting. Ben worked for H & R Block in Milton, FL and at various H & R Block offices in the Dallas/Ft. Worth, TX metroplex from 1995 to 2012.
Ben was very proud of his military service and he was stationed in many areas across the world. His duty stations included the Naval Air Station in Dallas, TX, where he was an Aviation Machinist Mate Reciprocal (ADR); Naval Air Weapons Station, China Lake, CA where he was an Aviation Boatswains Mate (ABH); Naval Air Facility, Sigonella, Sicily; Naval Air Station, Chase Field, Beeville, TX; USS Guam (LPH-9) Naval Station, Norfolk, VA; Naval Support Activity (NSA), Naples, Italy; USS Nassau (LHA-4), Naval Station, Norfolk, VA and Naval Air Station (NAS) Oceana, Virginia Beach, VA. While serving his country, Ben was a part of various wars and conflicts such as the Vietnam War, Lebanon, Invasion of Grenada, Space Shuttle Challenger Recovery, Invasion of Panama, Gulf War, and Somalia.
Ben met and married his wife, Barbara of 42 years in Sigonella, Sicily in 1978. Barb saw Ben in the barracks lounge on several occasions, but always in civilian clothes and she did not know if he was a civilian or a sailor because she never saw him in uniform. When they met, he told her that he worked shift work and worked 2 days, 2 evenings, and 2 mids, and then he had 4 days off which explained why he was always in civilian clothing when she saw him. They were both active duty members in the U. S. Navy and Ben introduced Barb to Sicilian life and took her to restaurants and markets when they first met. It was a love affair that began in January 1978 when Barb arrived, and a love affair that was still strong in the end. Ben loved his family more than life itself!
An avid reader, he and Barb would read for hours on end in their apartment in Sicily with the record player playing a variety of music from Springsteen to Kiss to Willie Nelson. With coffee cup in hand and a paperback book, he was in his element. His two favorite authors were Tom Clancy and Clive Cussler.
He loved his life in the Navy and worked many hours each day. He and Barb had three wonderful sons while serving their country and when Barb deployed onboard ship after she was commissioned, Ben took his boys to work with sleeping bags, backpacks, and snacks because the Gulf War was in full force and there were no 9 to 5 working hours. The boys spent many nights with Ben at his work and then he would get them home in the morning to eat, bathe, change clothes and get them to school and/or childcare. Then Ben would go home and get some sleep before it started all over again. The boys loved it and were never in the way, and they were loved by all the sailors that worked for and with Ben.
Ben joined the HC-6 Spouses Club (formerly known as the HC-6 Wives Club) when Barb was assigned to HC-6. Ben was a Navy Chief, and the Spouses Club was comprised of the wives of the Navy pilots and officers. Ben refused to join the HC-6 Wives Club because he was not a wife and he made it perfectly clear to the President of the Wives Club that unless the name was changed, he would not be a member. The name was changed soon thereafter, and Ben became a mentor to many young Navy wives. He was "the Chief" and with three young sons of his own, Ben was quite unique in taking care of the children and the home while serving in the Navy while his wife Barb was deployed. Barb received a letter numbered #12 that read in part "the party was a success, and the wives loved our home." Barb had no idea what he was talking about except to read that the Commanding Officer's wife and several other officers' wives had been in her home at a party thrown by her husband! The next letter that Barb received was numbered #11 and explained fully the reason for the party at her home and they both had a good laugh over that story for many years. As the sole male in the Spouses club, Ben became the big brother/father to the young wives.
His grandchildren called Ben "Poppo" and he was the proudest grandfather in the world. He selected all of Emily and Morgan's dresses when they were young, and Barb had little say in that. He loved shopping for his grands. Ethan was his little cowboy and Ben insisted on buying him his first pair of cowboy boots, and a cowboy hat along with jeans and a snap shirt.
Ben loved to fish with his boys and took all three fishing for the first time in Virginia when the family was transferred there in 1990. Ben and the boys would go to the Naval Amphibious Base Little Creek when the boys were only 6, 8, and 10 years old and they loved it. Another favorite fishing spot was in Pensacola, FL at Perdido and Pensacola Beach. He loved to hunt and although he did not get to hunt as often later in life, he loved to hunt in the Hill Country (around Mason and Fredericksburg, TX) on the deer lease that his family had for years. Ben loved to travel and in addition to being stationed in Europe twice in his Navy career he loved to show his wife the Hill Country. They travelled to Fredericksburg at least once each year to go to Trade Days and shop. They also loved to go into the country to see deer and wildlife, and sneak in a little fishing on occasion, and of course look at the Bluebonnets that went on for miles in the spring.
Ben was a member of various organizations such as the AARP, American Legion Post #400 (Topeka, KS) 35+ year member, Aviation Boatswains Mates (AB) Association, Chief Petty Officers Association (CPOA), Disabled American Veterans (DAV), Fleet Reserve Association (FRA), Helicopter Combat Support Squadron SIX (HC-6) Spouses Club, National Rifle Association (NRA), and the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Life Member. Ben was also a member of the Elizabeth Chapel United Methodist Church in Chumuckla, Florida.
Ben was preceded in death by his father and mother, John M. Turner and Earline C. Turner. He is survived by his loving wife Barbara (Couch) Turner; sons and their families John and Amy Turner with grandchildren Ethan, Emily and Morgan Turner; Michael and Brandy Turner with step-grandchildren Elizabeth and Kaylee Tatro; son Timothy Turner and sister Lona Turner.
TAPS
Day is done, gone the sun.
from the lake, from the hill,
from the sky,
All is well, safely rest,
God is nigh.
Thanks, and praise for our days
‘neath the sun, ‘neath the stars,
‘neath the sky.
As we go, this we know.
God is nigh.
~
The Stars and Stripes
The Stars and Stripes, they flew forever
always in his heart.
He was loyal to his nation
and bravely did his part.
Always thinking of his brother
ever in his mind,
He stood for love of country
and most of all, mankind.
Now gazing down with his Master
through a light and heavenly cloud,
He’s still looking out for all of us
of whom he is so proud.
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