Virginia Nelle "Gina" Turner

Virginia Nelle Gina Smith Turner, 92 of Springfield, passed away peacefully, Thursday, January 18, 2018, at St. Johns Hospital. Gina was born December 10, 1925 in Rushville, to Edward Wright and Leah Ellen Dick Smith, but grew up in rural Virginia, IL. She attended and graduated from Hickory School, a one-room schoolhouse, and from Beardstown High School. She then graduated from Gem City Business College in Quincy, Illinois. She married Julian G. Turner on October 8, 1949 at the Sangamon Valley Presbyterian Church. She began her career working in Urbana, at the U of I, College of Agriculture. She moved to Springfield and worked at S. A. Barker, Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction, Division of Services for Crippled Children, Illinois State Medical Society, Administrative Office of Illinois Courts, and retired from the Illinois Department of Public Health. In retirement, she worked part time (twenty years) for the Illinois Department of Revenue. Mrs. Turner was a 45-year member of Faith Lutheran Church. She is a Lifetime member (64 years) of Beta Sigma Phi sorority, where she was selected queen in 1975, and is an honorary member (52 years) of the Blue Ridge Club at Lake Springfield. Mr. Turner passed away on May 29, 2001, after 52 years of marriage. She was also preceded in death by her parents and sisters, Frances Ellen Smith Preston and Mary Jeanette Smith Hockett. She will be greatly missed by her son, Ronald Russell Turner of Springfield; daughter, Julie Ann Turner (husband Rick) Harvill of Glenarm; granddaughters, Cassandra Marie Harvill (fianc Matthew Butler) of Jacksonville, Florida and Ciera Kathlyn Harvill of Peoria, Illinois; several beloved nieces, nephews, and cousins. Committal service: 12 Noon, Tuesday, January 23, at Camp Butler National Cemetery with Pastor Paul S. Park officiating. Her family will then greet friends at 1pm, at a Celebration of Life and luncheon, at Staab Polk Memorial Home, 8855 State Route 4, Chatham, Tuesday, January 23, to share memories of her life. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to American Heart Association, 2141 W. White Oaks Drive, #A, Springfield, IL 62704.