Mary G Turner

Mary G. Turner (nee Winters), born July 31, 1928, passed away peacefully at her home in Titusville, Florida on Friday August 28, 2020 at the age of 92 after a long illness. She will be remembered as a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, educator, friend, and good neighbor by all those who knew her. Mary is preceded in death by her husband of almost 50 years, Robert (“Bob”) Alton Turner. Born in Warsaw, New York, Mary was the daughter of Fred and Ethel Winters. When, at 12 years old, her mother was killed in a road accident, Mary was taken in and raised by her devoted grandparents, Floyd, and Dora Clapp.  She graduated from Warsaw High School in 1946 then went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in music in 1949 from the State University of New York, Fredonia, New York. In 1959, Mary received a master’s degree in music and public administration from the University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland. In 1947, after World War II, Mary met and married her husband, a returning Army combat soldier, while still a student at Fredonia State. Bob had recently returned home following his service in Italy as a high-speed radio operator during the war. In 1951, Mary and Bob moved to Washington, DC when Bob joined the United States Air Force. He served in various capacities for the next 20 years including that of Band School Superintendent, Instrumental Instructor, and Ceremonial Band Leader at Bolling Air Force Base. Mary taught music and elementary school at several private and public institutions in the Washington, D.C. area from 1951 - 1961. Later in 1961, she became the principal at Middleton Valley Elementary School in Camp Springs, Maryland. In 1970, Bob retired, and having had their share of winters in New York state, they moved to Titusville, Florida to be near Mary’s grandmother, who had moved to Daytona some years earlier to help an ailing sister look after her disabled son. Soon thereafter, Mary accepted a position, and served for many years, as Dean of Women at Merritt Island High School. Later, during the 1980’s, she taught at Apollo Elementary School in Titusville. (While at Apollo, Mary had the opportunity to meet Christa McAuliffe, the American teacher and astronaut, who was subsequently killed in the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster. Sadly, Mary was also outside on the school grounds watching the launch with her students when they witnessed the tragedy firsthand.) Following her retirement in 1990, Mary developed a passion for genealogy. Over the next several years she and Bob conducted extensive research into her family’s history, and traveled the country visiting libraries, gravesites, and historical places of interest.  Mary proved spectacularly adept, tenacious (and sometimes lucky) as a genealogical scholar and was eventually able to trace her English ancestry back to passengers on the Mayflower; to Edward III, King of England; (and even farther back…!). She was active in the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) and served as historian of the DAR local Indian River Branch for many years. Mary also belonged to several other genealogy societies including: The National Society Magna Charta Dames and Barons, and The Society of the Friends of Saint George’s and Descendants of the Knights of the Garter. Following Bob’s death in 1996, Mary traveled extensively and visited several countries in Europe, the United Kingdom, and Russia. In 2001, Mary was blessed with the birth of, William Turner, her only grandchild. Mary is survived by her son, Robert Turner, her daughter-in-law, Susan Turner, and her grandson, William, of Bethesda, Maryland; and by her nephews:  Alvin Clapp of San Antonio, Texas and Duane Clapp of Wyoming, New York. Mary will be interned at Arlington National Cemetery, in Arlington, Virginia in the same gravesite as, Bob, her husband of 49 years. The funeral service is scheduled for December 16, 2020 at 2pm. The North Brevard Funeral Home in Titusville is handling funeral arrangements. No local calling hours are scheduled. Condolences may be shared at: www.northbrevardfuneralhome.com. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the Hospice of St. Francis in Titusville, Florida (https://reflectionslsc.org/donate/), or to the Brevard Zoo in Melbourne, Florida (https://brevardzoo.org/support-3/).

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