1930
Ruth Elaine Turner
2024
Ruth Elaine Turner
July 4, 1930 — May 25, 2024
Rockford
Ruth “Elaine” Turner, 93, walked peacefully into the arms of Jesus on Saturday, May 25, 2024, after a bad fall in her home. She was born on July 4, 1930, in Muncie, IN, the eldest child of Russell and Laura Etta Mathews. She spent her years growing up in Wapakoneta, OH, and graduated from Blume High School in 1948.
She attended Olivet Nazarene College for one year, where she met the love of her life, Donald Turner, the first week she was there. They were married on June 23, 1950. He passed away on July 4, 2018. They served many years together as Pastor and wife in The Church of the Nazarene in several cities in Illinois. Elaine held many different positions in the church, her greatest joy was preparing for and teaching the Young Adult Sunday School class and Bible Study groups.
She loved being a homemaker, especially cooking for her family and baking cookies and pies with her grandkids. Her family was always amazed how she could make a meal when the cupboards were bare. Elaine also loved to read and sew.
She is survived by her children, Ron (Pam) Turner, of Charlottesville, VA, Cheryl (Ron) Carlson, and Anita (Marty) Hughes of Rockford, IL; grandchildren, Michael Carlson, Justin, Kendra, Tyler, Mariah, Princeton Hughes, Megan, and Lydia Turner; sister-in-law and friend of 75 years, Helen Muir, who was also her neighbor the past eight years; and several nieces and nephews. She is predeceased by her husband, parents, two sisters, one brother, and a niece.
The family would like to thank some special friends, Glen and Debbie Lyons, who hardly missed a week visiting her over the last six years. Also, thank you to Cherryl Ellsworth, who became a very dear friend and soulmate in the last couple of years. And a thank you to the staff at Charter Senior Assisted Living, who have been amazing in caring for Elaine. They all thought that they were mom’s favorite- and they each were. She was very content to be at Charter and let them know how much she appreciated each of them.
A visitation for Elaine will be held on Thursday, May 30, 2024, from 3:00 p.m. through 4:30 p.m. at First Church of The Nazarene, 4503 Charles St., Rockford, IL, 61108. A funeral service will follow at 4:30 p.m. Private burial at Arlington Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to Nazarene Compassionate Ministries at ncm.org. To send online condolences and share memories, please visit www.fitzgeraldfh.com
She attended Olivet Nazarene College for one year, where she met the love of her life, Donald Turner, the first week she was there. They were married on June 23, 1950. He passed away on July 4, 2018. They served many years together as Pastor and wife in The Church of the Nazarene in several cities in Illinois. Elaine held many different positions in the church, her greatest joy was preparing for and teaching the Young Adult Sunday School class and Bible Study groups.
She loved being a homemaker, especially cooking for her family and baking cookies and pies with her grandkids. Her family was always amazed how she could make a meal when the cupboards were bare. Elaine also loved to read and sew.
She is survived by her children, Ron (Pam) Turner, of Charlottesville, VA, Cheryl (Ron) Carlson, and Anita (Marty) Hughes of Rockford, IL; grandchildren, Michael Carlson, Justin, Kendra, Tyler, Mariah, Princeton Hughes, Megan, and Lydia Turner; sister-in-law and friend of 75 years, Helen Muir, who was also her neighbor the past eight years; and several nieces and nephews. She is predeceased by her husband, parents, two sisters, one brother, and a niece.
The family would like to thank some special friends, Glen and Debbie Lyons, who hardly missed a week visiting her over the last six years. Also, thank you to Cherryl Ellsworth, who became a very dear friend and soulmate in the last couple of years. And a thank you to the staff at Charter Senior Assisted Living, who have been amazing in caring for Elaine. They all thought that they were mom’s favorite- and they each were. She was very content to be at Charter and let them know how much she appreciated each of them.
A visitation for Elaine will be held on Thursday, May 30, 2024, from 3:00 p.m. through 4:30 p.m. at First Church of The Nazarene, 4503 Charles St., Rockford, IL, 61108. A funeral service will follow at 4:30 p.m. Private burial at Arlington Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to Nazarene Compassionate Ministries at ncm.org. To send online condolences and share memories, please visit www.fitzgeraldfh.com
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Ruth Elaine Turner, please visit our flower store.
Service Schedule
Past Services
Visitation
Thursday, May 30, 2024
3:00 - 4:30 pm (Central time)
First Church of the Nazarene
Funeral Service
Thursday, May 30, 2024
4:30 - 5:00 pm (Central time)
First Church of the Nazarene
Guestbook
Visits: 386
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the
Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors