Ralph S. Turner, age 88, died Monday, December 29, 2008. A life-long resident of Decatur, he was the son of Addison Steward and Myra Haygood Turner. He graduated from Decatur Boys High, attended Emory University, and graduated from the Cincinnati School of Embalming. During World War II, he became a pilot and flew missions from India into China and Burma, known as "flying the Hump". After the war, he returned to Decatur and helped his two brothers run the funeral home that his father had started. In 1959, he helped design and build a new funeral home on N. Decatur Road, which was then surrounded by woods. He was active in the National Funeral Directors Association, where he served as National Secretary and was a past President of the Georgia Funeral Directors Association. He was a member of the First Baptist Church of Decatur, the Grand Jurors Association, and the China-Burma-India (CBI) Club. He loved to take vacations to very unusual places, including Canada to see the polar bears, a boat trip down the Amazon, a boat trip down the Irrawaddy in Burma, and numerous trips to India and China. He loved to tell stories and make people laugh, including himself. Mr. Turner is survived by his son and daughter-in-law, Fred and Dr. Janie Turner of Atlanta; two daughters, Dr. Patricia Turner of Savannah, Jane Turner of Social Circle; and two grandchildren, Scott Turner and Caroline Turner. Funeral services will be held on Friday, January 2, at 11:00 am at the First Baptist Church of Baptist. Dr. Peter Rhea Jones and Bishop L. Bevel Jones will officiate. Those desiring may send contributions to the Georgia Funeral Directors Foundation’s Building Fund, P.O. .Box 1865, Roswell, GA 30077. The family will receive friends from 3 to 5 pm and from 6 to 8 pm Thursday evening at A. S. Turner & Sons.
