Robert E. Turley

Col. Robert E. Turley, 90, of Longmont passed away February 6, at Longmont United Hospital.He was born October 3, 1927 in Indiana to Edgar and Jessie (Gehlbach) Turley. He moved with his family to Colorado and graduated from West High School in 1945.Bob was inducted into the US Army Air Corps on December 14, 1945 and on June 26, 1946 was discharged and enlisted in the Regular Army serving until August 2, 1947 and was honorably discharged to the Army Reserves.Using the GI bill he earned a degree in chemical engineering from Denver University in 1951. On July 4, 1951 he married Marlene Willie in Westminster, CO.As a condition of using the GI bill the Army recalled Bob to active duty on September 19, 1951 with the rank of 2nd Lieutenant. Over many years between active and inactive duty he retired with the rank of Colonel.Bob began his civilian career as a chemical engineer at the Rocky Mountain Arsenal and then Martin Marietta working on the Titan Missile. In the 1960's he worked on the Saturn rocket for GE and then moved to IBM to work on other aerospace, computer and ultimately environmental protection projects. After his retirement from IBM in 1990 he worked for the EPA for several years.Bob was an outdoorsman. He enjoyed fishing and camping. His avocation was running a small ranch north of Longmont with cattle, horses, pigs and quail.He was preceded in death by his parents, son Russell and brother Gene.Bob is survived by his wife Marlene, four sons Robert (Nancy), Richard (Padte), Ronald (Gizelle) and Randy (Lauren); seven grandchildren Kyle (Megan), Cory (Deidra), Brittany Distal (Justin), Sean (Katie), Haley, Kaci Steele (J l) and Dani Steger (Scott); five great grandchildren Paighton, Quinn, Caiden, Kyler and Sawyer and Albert Cardoso who he considered to be another son.Visitation will be 6:00 to 8:00pm Monday, February 12, 2018 at the Ahlberg Funeral Chapel. Funeral services will be 10:00 am Tuesday February 13, 2018 at Ahlberg Funeral Chapel. Interment will be at 2:15 pm Tuesday at Fort Logan National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions can be sent to the Greenwood Wildlife Rehab Center 5761 Ute Hwy Longmont, CO 80503. Visit www.ahlbergfuneralchapel.com to share condolences.