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IN LOVING MEMORY OF William (Bill) Dewitt Turley
William (Bill)
Dewitt Turley
Sep 12, 1925 — Jul 21, 2022
William (Bill) Dewitt Turley's Obituary
On Thursday, July 21st, 2022, William Dewitt (Bill) Turley, loving husband and father of two children, went home to be with Jesus at the age of 96.
Bill was born on September 12th, 1925 in Houston, Texas to Sam and Bessie Turley. He grew up in the Heights and later in the Greens Bayou area in East Houston. Bill graduated from Jeff Davis High School and promptly enlisted in the Army and was assigned to the Army Air Corps, flying 32 missions over Germany as a ball turret gunner in a B-17 Flying Fortress.
After completing his WWII service, Bill returned home and enrolled at Texas A&M, where he served as Company commander his senior year and graduated Class of 1950. Upon graduation, he was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Army and was assigned to a field artillery battalion which was deployed to Korea. Serving as a forward observer, 2nd Lieutenant Turley saw direct action against the North Koreans. Upon completion of his deployment, he returned to Fort Sill, OK, where he was introduced to Girlene Joy Dillingham, to whom he was married six weeks later. They raised two children, Steve and Betsy.
Bill's Army service continued through 1973, and included overseas assignments in India and a year in Viet Nam. He retired at the rank of Colonel with the rare distinction of having served in three wars during his distinguished career. Upon retirement, Bill began a second career as a Real Estate Appraiser in Houston, retiring again at the age of 70. Post "retirement," he began substitute teaching in the Klein School District until the age of 80. Once retired, he was in the habit of recounting his WWII service to history classes at his high school alma mater as a guest lecturer from "The Greatest Generation." He also chronicled his service in a video series for the Houston Chronicle.
Bill and his wife, Girlene, were long time members of St. Dunstan's Episcopal Church in Houston, Texas, and served as a mentor and usher for many years. He loved to travel overseas and was, with Girlene, an avid fan of Texas A&M sports.
Bill was preceded in death by his wife, Girlene, his father, Sam, and mother, Bessie, and his younger brother, Sammy. He is survived by his children Steve and Betsy, three grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. A memorial service will be held on Wednesday, August 31st at St. Dunstan's Episcopal Church,
14301 Stuebner Airline Road, Houston, TX 77069
at 2 o'clock p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be given to St. Dunstan's Memorial Fund.
Funeral Services for William (Bill) Dewitt Turley
Memorial Service
August
31
Wednesday
St. Dunstan's Episcopal Church
Starts at 2:00 pm
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