David S. Turner, our beloved father, husband, grandfather, great-grandfather, uncle, brother and friend passed away on June 1, 2000 from a sudden heart attack. It was a surprise to all who knew him because of his healthy active lifestyle.
David was born in Salt Lake City, Utah on Dec. 28, 1918 to Mary Jane Wilde and Alfred Turner. He was raised in Salt Lake City along with his four brothers and four sisters. He graduated from West High School in 1936. He married Arlene V. Ash on November 11, 1938. The marriage was later solemnized in the Salt Lake LDS Temple. They have been married for 61 years.Dave spent many years as a sheet metal worker and later moved his family to Washington D.C. to accept the position of General Secretary Treasurer of the Sheet Metal Workers International Association. He served for more than 22 years and was respected by all who worked with him in that organization. He has a caring interest in people. His involvement with the Sheet Metal Workers allowed him to travel and visit many places throughout the world while he acted as a labor representative for the United States. While serving as the General Secretary Treasurer, he held numerous positions including Chairman of the Metal Trades Department, member of the International Metal Federation and as labor member of the Federal Committee on Apprenticeship (FCA) for the U. S. Department of Labor. He served on the FCA until he retired from the SMW's International in 1981. He was the only representative at the trade conference held in Shamoda, Japan. The purpose of the conference was to open trade discussion between the United States and Japan. He was also a past president of the Utah State AFL-CIO.
He was an active member of the LDS Church and he served faithfully in many calling but most importantly he was a great husband and father. He was a faithful home teacher who took his assignment seriously and always contacted his families even if he needed to do so by phone because he was out of town. He served in the Jordan River and the Las Vegas Temple.
Dave was an Eagle Scout and a sports enthusiast and enjoyed boxing and gymnastics during high school. He served in the Navy during World War II and was stationed in the South Pacific. He enjoyed the outdoors and spent time in his early married life fishing and hunting. One of his most memorable qualities was his generosity toward his family members and friends.
He is survived by his wife, Arlene V. Turner; son, David Gary Turner (Betty), Alexandria, Virginia; son, Richard M. Turner (Rhea), West Valley City, Utah; daughter, Mary Jane Vogel (Raymond) Henderson, Nevada; and son, Michael Kelly Turner (Linda), Salt Lake City, Utah; 20 grandchildren and 24 great-grandchildren. He is also survived by the following brothers and sisters: Joseph Turner, Freda Diefenthaler, Florence Broders, John Turner, Roy Turner, and Kay Roesbery. We will all miss you greatly Dad. He was preceded in death by his parents, a brother, Dean Turner, and a sister, Cleo Brixey.
Funeral services will be held Monday, June 5, 2000, 11 a.m. in the Cottonwood 12th Ward, 1750 East Spring Lane, Salt Lake City, Utah. Friends may call at the Holladay-Cottonwood Mortuary, 4670 South Highland Drive, Salt Lake City, Utah on Sunday, June 4, 2000, 6