Turner, Sidney H., 91, February 6, 2015. Interment to be held in the South Side Cemetery, Mapleton. Arrangements by Clifford Funeral Home, Rutland, VT.
CENTER RUTLAND, VT. – Sidney Herbert Turner, 91, of Center Rutland, VT, died of natural causes on February 6, 2015. He was born to the late David and Beulah (Johnson) Turner, on October 30, 1923, in Mapleton, Maine.
Sidney graduated from Mapleton High School in 1942. He enlisted in the Navy and served his country in WWII on the USS Langley in the South Pacific from 1943 thru 1946. After the war, Sidney received a BS degree from the University of Maine in 1950 where he was a member of Theta Chi fraternity. He married Althea Kirk in 1949 in Ashland, ME, and they lived together in Mapleton, ME and later Caribou, ME, before relocating to Center Rutland, VT in 1997.
Sidney worked at Presque Isle Air Force Base in supply and later at Loring Air Force Base as a computer (keypunch) instructor until he retired in 1988. Sidney built three homes for his family during his lifetime: one home in Mapleton, ME and two homes in Caribou, ME. Sidney loved to create in wood and became an accomplished woodworker. Many people in Aroostook County, ME, and Rutland, VT own his one-of-a-kind furniture, carvings, dollhouses, and birdhouses. As a young man, Sidney was an active member of the Mapleton Lions Club. In mid-life he was a member of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Caribou, ME, and in retirement he was active in the Unitarian Universalist Church of Rutland, VT. In his retirement years, Sidney became passionate about writing on the subject of his experiences in WWII and wrote a book titled: “Memories of a WWII Airdale” in 2008.
Sidney is survived by his wife Althea K. Turner of Rutland, VT; two children, Lisa Turner of Seattle, WA and Kirk Turner and his wife Ann (Schubert) Turner, of Plymouth, VT; and two grandchildren, Nicholas Turner of Big Sky, MT and Garret Turner of Cottonwood Heights, UT. He is also survived by two of his siblings, Philip Turner of Caribou and Hope Noe of Concord, MA; as well as several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his brothers, Osmond, Vinal, and Richard Turner.
In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting that donations be made in Sidney’s name to: either the Caribou Public Library (207) 493-4214, the Mark and Emily Turner Memorial Library (207) 764-2571 or the Rutland County Humane Society (802) 483-9171.
A graveside gathering is being planned by his children to be held at the South Side Cemetery in Mapleton, ME and will be announced at a later date.
Arrangements are under the direction of the Clifford Funeral Home in Rutland, VT.
