Earl E. Turner

"He was a true gentleman and a good man". Earl E. Turner, Sr., a member of the "Greatest Generation", died on Thursday, March 27, 2014 at the age of 100 having been born to Arthur and Mattie Turner in Slaughter, LA., on July 14, 1913. He was a graduate of Istrouma High School and graduated from LSU in 1936 with a degree in chemical engineering. While on the ROTC boxing team, he was offered a 4 year scholarship on the LSU boxing team. He lost only 1 fight in 4 years and was team captain his senior year. He was a company commander in the ROTC and attended U.S. Army Chemical Warfare School at the Edgewood Arsenal in Maryland. In 1936, he married Tennie Mae King from Baker, LA., and went to work for Humble Oil in Baton Rouge. He was a member of the Louisiana National Guard, and his unit was activated in 1941 for World War II. He served in the US Army Chemical Corps., and was stationed in Washington, D.C. from 1941 -1945. He was Chief of Branch of the Chemical Corps obtaining the rank of LT. Colonel. After the war, he remained in the Active Reserves as Director, Chemical Corps School until 1957 and was subject to a 30 day call up during the Korean War but was never activated. He went on inactive reserve status in 1957 and retired from the US Army Reserves in 1973 with the rank of LT. Colonel. While at Humble Oil, ESSO Research Laboratories, he and Tennie Mae enjoyed many varied and interesting assignments. For 2 years in the 1960's they resided in Rifle, Colorado, for a special research program connected with Oil Shale Rock and the extraction of oil. In 1969 they resided in Nova Scotia, Canada, for another research project involving iron ore development. In the early 1970's they were sent to Marsa El Brega, Libya, on a 2 year assignment for ESSO International, where he was the supervisor of a new liquefied gas unit that was under construction. After the plant was nationalized by Libya, they spent considerable time traveling in Europe and the Middle East. In 1974, Mr. Turner retired from Humble Oil and Refining ESSO Research Labs, which is now ExxonMobil. After Tennie Mae's death in 1975, Mr. Turner married Daisy Bankston, his widow, with whom he shared a continued busy, rewarding and productive life traveling all over the world until his death. He was a proud member of the LSU "L" Club and was an enthusiastic supporter of all LSU sports. He is survived by his widow, Daisy Bankston Turner; sons, Dr. Earl E. Turner, Jr., and wife, Beverly, of Baton Rouge, and Bruce K. Turner and his wife, Carolyn, of Denham Springs, LA; step-daughter, Dedra French and husband, Jeff of Walhala, South Carolina. He is also survived by 7 grandchildren; Karen Turner Rossi and husband, Joe, of Greenville, SC, Dr. David Turner and wife, Ann of Anderson, SC, Lisa Turner Clouatre and husband, Jason, of Denham Springs, LA., Steve Turner and wife, Becca, of Colleyville, TX, Jeff Turner and wife, Shielagh, of Denham Springs, LA; Earl E. Turner, III and wife, Lindsay, Baton Rouge; and Mark K. Turner of Philadelphia, PA; step-grandchildren, Cindy Parks Bennett and husband, Kelly, of Denharn Springs, LA; Jim Parks of Houma, LA; Susan Parks; Stephen Parks and wife, Becky of Prairieville, LA, Scott Carroll and wife Heather of Knoxville TN and Jay and Ada Carroll of Wahalla, SC and 28 great grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. Mr. Turner was preceded in death by his said parents, Arthur and Mattie Turner; step-daughter, Peggy Turner Parks brothers, Godfrey, Percy and Leo; and sisters, Ruby, Thelma, Hazel and Gracie. Pallbearers shall be grandsons of Mr. Turner, namely, David Turner, M.D., Stephen Turner, Jeffrey Turner, Earl Turner, III, Mark Turner. Honorary pallbearer will be Stanley Forbes. We would like to thank Terry Atchetee and the entire staff at Amber Terrace Assisted Living for their care of dad and a special thanks to his loving caretakers Ms. Debra Moore, Shirley Gutter, Keysha Domonick and to all the others who took care of him for the past year and to Clarity Hospice for their Care of him in his last days. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Blackwater United Methodist Church or charity of your choice.   Visitation will be Monday, March 31, 2014 at Rabenhorst Funeral Home East 11000 Florida Blvd. starting at 10:00am until services in the funeral home chapel at 12:00pm followed by internment in Redwood Baptist Church Cemetery in Slaughter, LA.  Please sign our online registry atwww.rabenhorst.com/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://www.rabenhorst.com/">www.rabenhorst.com.