Maria Luz Turner

Maria Luz Turner was born on March 24, 1933, in Dallas to Rafael and Maria Luz Aguilar. She was the seventh of eight children in a close-knit family and grew up in the Little Mexico neighborhood of Dallas. She graduated from Crozier Tech High School, where she learned the secretarial skills that she used to gain a job after graduation.

She married Edward S. Retta on New Year’s Eve, 1954. They enjoyed eight happy years together and the birth of two children, Edward and Myra. In 1963, she was widowed and resumed working to support her family.

Luz spent 27 years working as a secretary at Republic National Bank in downtown Dallas. She then advanced to the position of executive assistant to the president of Triton Energy, where she also met William J. Turner, a manager of engineering. They married in 1989 and would have celebrated their 25th anniversary in December. After retirement, the couple traveled extensively with family and church friends.

She knew the Lord personally from a young age and attended Park Cities Baptist Church for many years. She was an active member of the church Prayer Circle, volunteered with Baylor Women’s Auxiliary, and was an inspiration of strength and faithfulness to many who knew her.

Luz is survived by her husband, William J. Turner; her brother and sister-in-law, Raul and Eugenia Aguilar; her children, Edward Retta and Myra Retta Van Horn; their spouses, Marilyn Retta and Mark Van Horn; and six grandchildren, Lucia Retta, Julia Retta, Rachel Van Horn, Sofia Retta, Rebecca Van Horn and Emmanuel Van Horn.

In lieu of flowers, Luz requested that donations be made in her name to the Baylor University Louise Herrington School of Nursing Current Scholarship Fund. Gifts can be made through Donor Bridge at the following link: http://www.cftexas.org/page.aspx?pid=1526&orgId=b0876ad1-f05b-4cfd-a624-7f8ecc58a617