Horatio W. Turner, III

Harry Turner, 92, longtime resident of Talbot County, died peacefully Monday, August 31st at Charlotte Hall Veterans Home, St. Mary’s County, MD. He was born 17 August 1917 in Baltimore, MD, to Horatio W. Turner Jr. and the former Mary Allen Dixon. His wife of 48 years, Mary Helen (Rosemer), died earlier this year. Harry grew up in Baltimore, then Princeton, New Jersey, spending his summers in Talbot County. He attended the Beasely School, St. Paul’s in Concord, New Hampshire, and Princeton University, where he starred on Princeton’s ice hockey team, earned an Olympic tryout invitation, majored in English Literature and graduated in the Class of 1940. A Class Officer and dedicated alumnus, Harry rarely missed a Princeton alumni event. Harry was a patriot who served in two wars. Commissioned 2ndLT in the Artillery Corps in 1940, he later transferred to the Army Air Corps, earned his Army Air Corps wings, served as an instructor, then qualified in B-17 and B-29 bombers. Assigned as B-29 aircraft commander, he flew his B-29 Bomber “Island Girl” and crew to Guam to enter the WWII Pacific campaign’s night bombing mission against Japan. Leading missions against strategic Japanese targets, he earned multiple combat air medals and other awards and, for exceptional bravery and performance under intense fire, the Distinguished Flying Cross. He returned to active duty as a B-29 aircraft commander operating from Newfoundland during the Korean conflict. Harry, and his first wife, the former Margaret Murray Henderson then moved permanently to Talbot County. After trying the chicken business, he returned to the mortgage industry he had earlier learned at First National City of New York. Later he founded Peninsula Land Company and became a developer and builder. Harry loved life, family and the Eastern Shore of Maryland. He was an avid sailor, fisherman, hunter, golfer and private pilot, and more recently, a founding member of the “Romeos” Thursday lunch group and a Friday golf group. He belonged to the Tred Avon and Chesapeake Bay Yacht Clubs and the Talbot Country Club for many years. He had a quick wit and a gift for bringing smiles and merriment to any occasion. He is fondly remembered by all, especially his 6 children - Mary Lynn Turner, Horatio W. Turner IV, W. Fitzhugh Turner III, John R. Volatile, Thomas B. Volatile, Gerard B. Volatile, 10 grandchildren – Alex, Mandy, Ridge, John, CE, Abby, Stokes, Emily, Ryan, Katie and great granddaughter, Louisa. He was preceded in death by his two sisters, “Tutts” Dickey and Grace Hazard. Family Visitation at Fellows, Helfenbein & Newman Funeral Home, Easton, MD, from 6-8 PM on Tuesday September 8th. Memorial Service at Christ Church, Easton, MD, at 11:00 AM Wednesday September 9th. The family requests donations in lieu of flowers, to Charlotte Hall Veterans Home, The Chesapeake Bay Foundation, or another good cause of you’re choosing. www.fhnfuneralhome.com

Horatio W. Turner, III

August 17, 1917 - August 31, 2009