James Foster Turner

James "Jim" Foster Turner entered his eternal rest on February 26, 2024, in Columbus, Ohio. Jim put up a brave and heroic fight for several years against pulmonary fibrosis and peacefully passed from complications related to pneumonia. He was 81 years young.

Jim was born in Columbus on August 7, 1942, to Floyd and Helen Haggerty Turner. A fierce competitor throughout his life, Jim was a state championship swimmer in the butterfly at Upper Arlington High School, graduating in 1960. In 1995, Jim was awarded the Upper Arlington High School Distinguished Alumni Award.

Following high school, Jim earned a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from The Ohio State University (1964), where he was an outspoken member of Beta Theta Pi. While at OSU, he formed lifelong friendships with many of his fraternity brothers, a diverse group who gathered and celebrated homecoming together for 58 years.

After college, Jim joined the US Marine Corps Reserve, completed basic training, and served as a radio operator. In 1970, an unsuspecting Jim joined the Columbus Young Republicans Club where he instantly fell under the effervescent spell of his beloved future wife Sandy. They were married in Columbus on March 20, 1971.

Jim created and managed multiple businesses throughout his life and proudly considered himself a serial entrepreneur and potent job creator. Beginning in banking, he worked his way into the airline industry and later founded Turner Associates, Inc which provided data processing services for lawyers and accountants. Jim then owned and operated multiple telephone industry companies including the Chillicothe Long Distance Telephone Co, ComNet of Ohio, Inc. and Business Telephone Systems of America, Inc.

Possessing a relentless, driven and often childlike fascination for the world around him, Jim followed his formal retirement by passionately and avidly serving the community from which he came. President of the Rotary Club of Upper Arlington; Columbus Zoo Board of Trustees; Member, Governing Board, First Community Church, a Founding Director, Upper Arlington Alumni Association; Developer and Director, The Teresa A. Dowd School for Homeless Children; Founding Trustee, Upper Arlington Education Association; Chairman, Mayor’s Select Committee on Drug Abuse; the roster of causes he supported with his unyielding devotion goes on.

Jim was widely & wildly known for his humor, kindness, and outgoing personality. Traveling often to far-flung destinations to serve others, his was a voracious mission to understand intimate details of the world around him. Curious about the universe and the afterlife, Jim loved watching documentaries and reading books with his precious Sandy, soaking up anything and everything about the cosmos and universal theology.

Perhaps of most importance, Jim & Sandy were inaugural members of the First Community Church and loved Couples Circle #47 where together they formed and nurtured lasting bonds which endure today.

Jim was preceded in death by his parents, his wife of 51 years, Sandra “Sandy” Bukey Turner, and his oldest brother Thomas “Tom” (Gloria) Turner. Left to cherish his memory are his brother Richard “Dick” (Carole) Turner, beloved brother in-law Daniel (Marylynn) Bukey, and children Dan (Kristin) Turner and Jamie Turner, both of Columbus, Ohio. His grandchildren include Ryland Michael Turner, Landyn John Turner, Peyton Russell Turner, Sacha Marie Hannah Dufrenot, and Karl Marie Edward Dufrenot. Along with nieces and nephews David (Sara) Turner, Mike Turner, Molly (Greg) Balla, Steve (Sherril) Turner, Jeff (Christina) Turner, Tom (Daniela) Turner, Michelle (Marc) Stewart, and Jill (Matt) Welch; Cousin Lawrence “Larry” (Marilyn) Turner, cousins-in-law Jackie Hayes, Sharon (Mike) Carter, Diane (Larry) Yoakum, and niece Mary Ann (Joel) Scraper. Great nieces and nephews Kevin Turner, Kyle Turner, William “Will” Turner, Annah Turner, Avery Turner, Elizabeth “Ellie” Turner, Claire Turner, Jud Turner, Katie Turner, Spring Balla, Abigail “Abby” Stewart, Adam Stewart, Sara Stewart, and Max Welch.

When Jim wasn’t busy handing out smiley-face stickers and lollipops to the people he loved, he could be found playing pickleball on the courts in Dublin; one of the many projects he kick-started for his community. Jim, an avid dog-lover, formed many friendships with fellow dog-owners during his residency at First Community Village, where he also taught a seminar on his favorite subject: HAPPINESS.

Jim will forever be remembered for his never-ending optimistic outlook and his ability to make everyone in any room he graced, feel welcome, included, and special.

Memorial service will be held at 1 PM Saturday, March 16, 2024 at First Community Church - North Campus, 3777 Dublin Rd. Family will receive friends following the service from 2-5 PM at Dave & Buster's, 3665 Park Mill Dr., Hilliard.