Born in Thomasville, NC in 1943, Paul lived most of his life on the Virginia Peninsula. He attended Old Dominion University Technical Institute following graduation from Hampton High School in 1961. He then became employed by Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company as a mechanical engineer in 1966, while also proudly serving in the US Army Reserves. It was during this time that he decided to fulfill a life-long dream of becoming a physician and registered as a full-time student at Christopher Newport (then College) University, while continuing to work full time and raising a family with his wife, Susan. He graduated Summa Cum Laude in 1970 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Biology and Chemistry. Paul attended the Medical College of Virginia in Richmond in their accelerated program and graduated in 1973. He did his internship and Emergency Medicine resident training at Riverside Hospital in Newport News. He was a physician partner of the James River Emergency Medicine Associates at Riverside Hospital's emergency room until 1991, then worked for a short time at both Sentara Hope in Hampton and McDonald Army Hospital at Fort Eustis. In 1993, he moved with his wife to Dover, DE and worked at the Bay Health Kent General Hospital until 1998 when he was forced to retire due to illness. In 2003, Dr. Turner returned to Newport News with his wife and began a fulfilled and active retirement, playing golf and enjoying their numerous retired racing greyhounds.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Paul E. Turner, Sr. and Dorothy Welch Turner of Hampton.
Paul is survived by his wife of 44 years, Susan Kahler Turner; children, Paul E. Turner, III of Fairfax, VA, and Karen Michele Unsicker and her husband, Andrew of Lorton, VA; grandson, John Bryan, III of Arlington, VA; brother, David M. Turner and wife, Vickie; and numerous nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles and cousins, as well as Festus and Sassy, his beloved greyhounds.
The family will receive friends from 1-2 PM on Thursday, June 24 at Parklawn-Wood Funeral Home, followed by a Celebration of Paul's life at 2 PM. Interment will follow immediately in the Parklawn Memorial Park.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Paul's favorite non-profit organization, the National Greyhound Adoption Program (NGAP), c/o Gay Latimer, 636 Piney Point Road, Virginia Beach, VA 23452.
Friends are encouraged to visit www.parklawn-woodfh.com to share memories and words of condolence with the family.
Arrangements are under the care of Parklawn – Wood Funeral Home, 2552 N. Armistead Ave., Hampton, VA 23666.
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