Howard A. Turner, 86, of Flora, died M o n d a y , April 24, 2006, at 10:10 p.m. at St. E l i z a b e t h

M e d i c a l

C e n t e r , Lafayette. He had been in failing health.

Born Dec. 13, 1919, in Goodland, Ind., he was the son of Archie and Grace Houlk Turner. His marriage was to Betty J. Jackson on Oct. 15, 1967, in Otterbein, Ind., and she survives.

Mr. Turner was a 1938 graduate of Brookston High School, and attended Purdue University for one year.

A World War II veteran, he served in the U.S. Army in the South Pacific from 1941-1945. An infantryman, he received a Purple Heart.

Mr. Turner worked at Ross Gear in Lafayette for 38 years in the plating division, retiring in May 1981. While he was at Ross Gear, he was the union president for 12 years, and was instrumental in the development of the Industrial Federal Credit Unions that started at the factory and now are in surrounding communities.

He formerly attended a Baptist Church in Lafayette, and is a member of the Delphi American Legion Post #75, and the Delphi VFW #9383.

He enjoyed fishing in Canada for many years, raising exotic birds, raising exotic fish, aquarium assembly, and playing euchre.

Surviving with his wife are three daughters, Linda Martin (husband: John) and Debbie A. Clark, and Vicki Shaw (husband: Jerry), all of Lafayette, Ind.; one son, Tom R. Turner of Lafayette, Ind.; two stepdaughters, Debra "Deb" Woods of Bringhurst, Ind., and Dorinda Beever of Dallas, Texas; one stepson, Thomas L. Patrick of Delphi, Ind.; one sister, Maxine Hockstra (husband: Sam) of Buck Creek; 12 grandchildren, five stepgrandchildren, six great-grandchildren, and eight stepgreat-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by one infant grandson and one stepgrandson.

Services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday at Abbott Funeral Home, Delphi. The Rev. Larry DeVos will officiate. Burial with Delphi American Legion and Delphi VFW military rites, will be at Brookston IOOF Cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home on Thursday from 5-8 p.m.

Memorial contributions may be made to the American Kidney Foundation (envelopes available at the funeral home).