Charles R. Turner

born on January 28, 1934, in Rosanky, Texas, to Roger Clifton Turner and Felton

Grohman Turner.

Charles grew up in Coupland, Texas and graduated from Elgin High School in 1952.

Watching his grandfather, father, mother, and many other family members work for the

Missouri-Kansas-Texas (Katy) Railroad, it was only natural that Charles would begin his

career as an Agent-Telegrapher with the MK&T. Charles worked across much of Texas

during his early career; while on an assignment in Waco, TX he was asked by a

coworker to go on a double date with two young ladies who were attending Baylor

University. This was the start of a long and happy relationship. Charles and Irelene

(Worrell) were married on March 2, 1956, recently celebrating 66 years of marriage.

During his 25 years with the Katy Railroad, Charles worked in many cities including

Smithville, San Antonio, Dallas, Wichita Falls and Houston. In 1976, he was named Vice

President of Operations of the Georgetown Railroad, and in 1983, he was appointed

President of the Georgetown Railroad. He retired from that position in 1997 with more

than 45 years of railroad service. Charles was an Honorary Member and Director at

Large of the Katy Railroad Historical Society.

Charles was baptized at a gospel meeting at age 12 and was a faithful Christian

throughout his life. He served in many roles in the church including as a deacon at the

Georgetown Church of Christ, driving the church van to pick up members for services,

helping Irelene as an assistant Bible class teacher, and organizing a weekly worship

and communion service at the Wesleyan Nursing Home.

Charles had many interests including collecting railroad memorabilia, restoring and

riding railroad motorcars, and even restoring a 1950 Santa Fe Pullman passenger

railcar with his son Lowell, which is now part of the Austin Steam Train Association’s Hill

Country Flyer. He also enjoyed travel, taking numerous family vacations, and several

private passenger railcar trips. Later in life, Charles and his Uncle Howard Finger

attended the Indianapolis 500, which became a favorite memory. Another late-in-life

interest was participation in 5K racing events, which Charles and Irelene enjoyed

together. Charles took a keen interest in his grandchildren’s sporting and extracurricular

activities, and he loved listening to classic country music, watching westerns, eating

good barbecue, and most of all, spending time with family and friends.

Charles is preceded in death by his parents and special aunts and uncles including Bert

and Howard Finger, Pershing Turner, and Alton Grohman.

He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Katie Irelene (Worrell) Turner, his daughter Dana

Tucker and husband David, his son Lowell Turner and wife Cynthia, and his daughter

Charlene Culpepper and husband Greg. He is also survived by grandchildren Liz

Hudson and husband Brandon, Jenni Tucker, Matthew Turner, Jonathan Turner,

Amanda Dominguez and husband Gerardo, Danielle Alvarez and husband Bryan, and

Lela Meeks and husband Alan as well as 11 great- grandchildren and a host of family

and dear friends.

Visitation will be held on Tuesday, July 19th from 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. at Cook-Walden Davis

Funeral Home in Georgetown. Funeral services will be at Cook-Walden Davis Funeral

Home in Georgetown on Wednesday, July 20th at 10:00 a.m. with burial to follow at

IOOF Cemetery in Georgetown.

Memorial donations can be made to the Katy Railroad Historical Society, 22016 Senna

Hills Dr., Garden Ridge, TX 78266 or at katyrailroad.org.