More detail on this person: Willard Gene Turman was born on May 15, 1934 in Lamar Missouri. His parents were Hal Clifford & Gladys Turman. He spent his childhood on a farm, helping his parents and five siblings. His family moved to Orland California when he was young, and his father died early at the age of 42, when Willard was 18. He and his older brother Lee helped his mom take care of his four younger sisters and brothers. He went to Orland High School and graduated in 1952. He joined the armed forces and began a long and illustrious career in the Army. He completed two tours of Korea as an Infantryman. After returning from Korea he was stationed in Fort Huachuca Arizona. He met a colleague's daughter, Carol May Hunter, and they were married in 1961.He attended flight school to become a helicopter pilot and upon completion they were stationed in Germany. They enjoyed the sights and sounds of Europe and had a daughter named Charlene May. They returned to Tucson Arizona shortly before their second daughter was born, and Willard was deployed to Viet Nam. While he fearlessly piloted a Chinook helicopter though the jungles of Viet Nam, Carol had another Daughter named Nancy Jane. Willard came home to the USA, but once again deployed for a second tour of Viet Nam. Upon his arrival back from his final tour of Viet Nam, they were stationed in a variety of exciting places including Corpus Cristi, Texas, Mililani Town, Hawaii, El Paso, Texas, and Enterprise, Alabama to name a few. Upon his retirement they settled back in Tucson, Arizona where Willard worked for Evergreen Air Center. They moved to Phoenix several years later when he took a job for America West Airlines. When he finally retired, he spent many happy years working on his cabin in Lakeside, Arizona in the summer and wintering in Tucson. While he build his dream retirement home, he got to spend his free time working on his beloved 1929 Ford Roadster Pickup Truck. He spent many years creating both a wonderful home and fantastic Model A pickup truck. He happily spent his summers and winters spending time with friends and family. He was a generous man, who gave all he had to those around him. He was a wonderful father, loving husband, committed brother, and ultimate friend. It is hard to describe the profound effect he had on anyone he was around; he was a loving and generous man that touched the hearts of so many. All who loved him will miss him. He battled a heart condition, which finally took him on April 19, 2016. He was preceded in death by his parents, older brother Lee Turman, younger sisters Patricia Sullivan and Shirley Millert. He is survived by his wife Carol as well as Daughters Charlene and Nancy Turman. He also leaves behind nieces and nephews, cousins and numerous extended family members. We are planning a celebration of Willard's life in the future, and will let his friends and family know when it will take place. In lieu of flowers please send any donations in Willard's name to Home for Our Troops, www.hfotusa.org. "What we have once enjoyed deeply we can never lose. All that we love deeply becomes a part of us."
This information was last updated 01/08/2019
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Date posted on this site: 10/13/2025
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