William “Bill” Lee Turner passed away at home on August 10, 2015. Friends may call from 1:00 – 3:00 P.M. Friday, August 14, 2015 at the Melby Funeral Home & Crematory, Platteville. Celebration of Life will be held at 3:00 P.M. with a time of fellowship and lunch to follow immediately afterwards. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the William “Bill” Turner Memorial Fund. Online condolences can be made at www.melbyfh.com.

He was born on September 6, 1940 in Masontown, West Virginia to Russell and Opal (Malone) Turner. Bill graduated from Masontown High School in 1958. He attended West Virginia University where he majored in music. After graduating in 1962, he taught band in Shinnston, WV for three years. Bill met Mary Longhorn at WVU's music school, and they were married on July 27, 1963 in Platteville. They were soul mates for 52 years.
Bill and Mary moved to Platteville (Mary's hometown) in 1966. Bill taught junior high band and started the orchestra program in the Platteville Public Schools. Under his direction the orchestra program quickly grew, and he taught strings full-time at the middle school and high school levels until his retirement in 1995.
Bill is survived by two sons: Matt (Mary Van De Loo) and children Daria and Kaden Van De Loo, Appleton; Aaron (Sandra Tiemens) and daughter Maya Turner, Colorado Springs; and daughter Susan Redfearn and her children Thomas Farrey (fiance Nicole Wernimont), Alyssa and Dakota Redfearn, and Anthony and Nicholas McWilliams. Bill is also survived by two brothers: John Turner (Caroline) of Warren, OH and David Turner of Dellslow, WV and a sister-in-law, Carole Waterman and her husband, John Waterman of Omaha, NE.
Bill loved to travel, read, and showed a remarkable ability with his paintings. We will miss you. You were a wonderful husband, father, and grandfather.