W. Neil Turner (93) of Harrisonburg, Virginia was called to be with Our Lord on
Wednesday, October 12, 2022. He was residing at VMRC in Burkholder House.
Neil was born January 25, 1929, in Broadway, Virginia to Hobart McKinley Turner
and Nellie (Ours) Turner. He attended Eastern Mennonite High School where he
met his wife, Margaret Yoder of Midland, Michigan. They were married June 17,
1949. After a year of study at Virginia Tech in Animal Husbandry, they began their family; farmed near Cootes Store,
Virginia, and attended Trissel’s Mennonite
Church. In the 1960’s, Neil began building houses, and later apartments in
Broadway. He became active in the National Home Builders Association and built a home designed by Margaret in
Broadway, and later a cabin on Smith Mt. Lake where the family spent weekends water skiing. He was man of many
interests and activities, obtaining his private pilot license, serving with Mennonite Disaster Service, building
commercially, starting Black Diamond Bank with his buddies, learning to play golf, owning a home in Florida, buying
his dream vehicles, going to the bottom of the Grand Canyon 5 times, and rafting the Colorado; Snake Rivers just to
name a few. In 1989, he built another home designed by Margaret in Fairway Hills, Harrisonburg, where they
attended Harrisonburg First Church of the Brethren. He was generous with church charities and the financial needs
of others. In 2015, they moved into the Virginia Mennonite Retirement Community where he enjoyed the company
of numerous friends, many whom he attended EMHS with or knew across his lifetime. He enjoyed meeting people
and finding what they had in common. Until the end, his handshake was as good as a legal contract, and he was
able to convey much with a few well-timed “one-liners”.
Neil was preceded in death by his wife, Margaret (Yoder), brother, Donnie, and
sister, Eleanor Hartzler, of Broadway. He is survived by his beloved sister-in-law,
Vivian (Baker) Turner, his 4 children: Gregory (Jenny) Turner of Timberville, Cheryl Turner of Durham, NC, Gary
(Debbie) Turner of Harrisonburg, and Teresa (John) Peach of Hartville, Ohio. He was very proud of his 15
grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren. He will also be missed by his devoted nieces, Dawn Turner and Janelle
Hartzler Harris.
Calling hours are Friday, October 21st from 6:00 to 8:00 pm at Grandle Funeral
Home. Funeral services will be held at Trissel’s Mennonite Church on Saturday,
October 22 at 10:00 am, officiated by Pastor Richard Early. Graveside service will
follow at the church cemetery.