Ethel M. Turner, age 91, formerly of Mill Village, passed away on Thursday, May 26, 2011 after a great journey through life. Born March 11, 1920 in Rockdale Township, Crawford County, she was a daughter of the late Timothy and Julia Campbell Racop.
Ethel married her childhood classmate and sweetheart, Robert A. Turner, on October 2, 1940 when she was 20 years old. They remained committed partners throughout the duration of their lives and were blessed with their three beloved daughters.
As a devoted wife and mother, Ethel leaves this world a better place for her many gifts she gave to those that loved her. She made the best gingerbread cookies and lemon meringue pies in the world, and she canned thousands of jars of fruit and vegetables. She also enjoyed dancing with her husband and gardening.
As a neighbor in the Mill Village community, Ethel will be sadly missed by her “neighbor girls” Janine Morgan, Diane Brace and Kellie Hanas. Ethel was a longtime member of the Mill Village Fire Department Ladies Auxiliary and she attended the United Methodist Church.
Ethel leaves a legacy of hard work, good food, and laughter around the extended dining room table. Surely she is at peace with what she has done, and that she is now resting alongside her cherished husband who died May 6, 1993.
She is survived by three daughters Joan Brown (Floyd) of Franklin, Sandra See (late Gary) of Chagrin Falls, OH, and Roberta Brown (Scott) of Erie. Her grandchildren, whom she considered her gifts, are Susan Bardusch (Robert), Courtney Polcar (Jeff), Dawn Dunn (Lance), Lindsay Watson (Jason), and Ashley O?????Hare (Ryan). Thankfully, Ethel was able to receive thousands of hugs and kisses throughout her life from her 7 great-grandchildren: Victoria and Alexandra Bardusch, Garrett and Avery Polcar, Gavin and Brayden Watson, and Riley O’Hare.
Ethel is further survived by her brother and two sisters, Howard Racop (Jean) and Vera Besonson (Don), all of Cambridge Springs, and Ruth Lawrence (late Reg) of Erie.
Visiting hours will be at the Van Matre Funeral Home, 105 Walnut Street, Waterford on Tuesday from 3:00 until 8:00 p.m. The funeral service will be there on Wednesday at 11:00 a.m. officiated by Pastor Linda L. Deeter, Chaplain of the Caring Place in Franklin, PA. Interment will follow at Mill Village Cemetery.
Memorial donations may be sent to the Mill Village Fire Department, 14408 North Main Street, Mill Village, PA 16427.
DEAR TURNER FAMILY, MY SINCEREST SYMPATHY. I WILL TRUELY MISS GRANDMA TURNER AT THE SEE AND WATSON GATHERINGS. THERE WAS ALWAYS SOMETHING ABOUT HER QUIET LADY LIKE RESERVE THAT REMINDED ME OF MY MOTHER. EVEN HER LOOKS SLIGHTLY RESEMBLED HER TOO. I KNOW SHE WILL ALWAYS BE IN THE HEARTS OF ALL HER CHILDREN, GRANDCHILDREN AND GREAT-GRANDCHILDREN. WITH LOVING THOUGHTS, BETSY WATSON