Walter William Turner

Funeral services for Walter William Turner, 78, of Diboll will be held Saturday, September 16, 2017 at 10:00 a.m. in the Carroway Funeral Home Chapel with Pastor Mark Livingston and Pastor Gene Elrod officiating. Graveside services with military honors will follow in the Old Union Cemetery.

Mr. Turner was born March 12, 1939 in Corrigan, Texas to the late Vida Louise (Thompson) and William Martin Turner, and died Tuesday, September 12, 2017 in a local hospital.

Mr. Turner dropped out of school at Lufkin High School at the end of his sophomore year and joined the United States Army with his best friend, Roger Williams, promising his mother if she would sign, he would finish school in the Army, which he did not. After a stint in Germany, he came home and decided he better keep his promise to his mother, Vida. He went out to Hudson and put two years in one and graduated from Hudson High School in 1959 where he met his future bride, Elvie Elaine Temple. He attended Lon Morris Jr. College, but decided he wanted to move to Houston and work. He married Elvie Elaine Temple on February 11, 1961 and moved his bride with him to Houston.

Walter and Elaine had two beautiful children, Troy Lane Turner, deceased in 2012 after a long battle with diabetes, and Katrina Elaine Turner Hawkins. Early on they enjoyed many wonderful years with their children, as Walter worked construction and traveled together as a family throughout the United States. There were also many happy years spent working with the children, grandchildren and their spouses at self-employed Universal Demolishing & Recycling and Trans American Machine & Die Corporation in Lufkin.

He loved his family, friends, and employees dearly and was highly respected by those who knew him, as well as many business associates he met through the years. His family was very close and spent many joyful holidays and vacations together.

Survivors include his wife of 56 years, Elaine Turner of Diboll; daughter and son-in-law, Katrina and Donnie Hawkins of Hudson; daughter-in-law, Diane Turner Lee of Lufkin; grandchildren, Charlene Johnson and Steven Toothman, Tiffany Turner, Casey Turner, Brittany Darab, Walter Cody Darab, Sr. and Amber, Lauren York, Shannon Massey and Randal, and Bobby Don Hawkins and Courtney; great-grandchildren, Justin Johnson, Alyah Alvarado, Zach Toothman, Walter Cody Darab, Jr., and William Lee Darab, Aaliyah Hawkins and Adrian, and Kyleigh Hawkins and Aubrie; brother-in-law, Clinton Stephens, Jr. of Hudson; sisters-in-law, Elizabeth Swor, Mary Henderson, Billie Temple, and Helen Temple, all of Hudson; numerous nieces, nephews, and other special family members, many close and loving cousins, and special friends, Roger Williams, Travis Fuller, and Bryan Hoosier of Louisiana.

He was preceded in death by his son, Troy Turner; parents; parents-in-law, Burnis and Beatrice Temple; brother, James Turner; sister, Shirley Louise Turner Stephens; and brothers-in-law, Gaston, Powell and Leeland Temple.

Pallbearers will be Mike Stephens, Eric Stephens, Casey Turner, Cody Darab, Randy Temple, and Stanley Temple.

Special Honorary Pallbearers will be Roger Williams and Travis Fuller and Honorary Pallbearers will be the employees of Universal Demolishing & Recycling.

The family will welcome friends and loved ones from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Friday evening at the funeral home.

Memories and condolences may be added at www.carrowayfuneralhome.com.

Carroway Funeral Home, Lufkin, directors.