Obituary of William J. Turner

William J. Turner, Ph.D.  

Dr. William J. Turner, 93, of Audubon, P.A. passed away Thursday, October 22, 2020. 

He was born in Canandaigua, N.Y. on March 7, 1927, the son of the late William E. and Sarah Marie (Toomey) Turner. He spent his childhood in Victor, N.Y. where he was recognized by the Victor Central Schools as its first “Graduate of Distinction.”

Bill was awarded an academic scholarship to attend Villanova University where he earned his B.S. degree in Physics and was named in the 1949 edition of Who’s Who in American Colleges and Universities. Bill went on to earn his Ph.D. in Physics at The Catholic University of America where he was awarded the Knights of Columbus Graduate Fellowship.

Beginning in 1951, Dr. Turner spent a little over a year as a physicist at the Naval Research Laboratory and, thereafter, approximately three years working as a physicist at the National Bureau of Standards in Washington, D.C. In 1956, he became a research staff member and technical manager at IBM Research, first in Poughkeepsie, N.Y. and, later, in Yorktown, N.Y. In 1986, he became the Director of Research Staff Operations at the IBM Research Center. During his career, Dr. Turner published over 15 technical papers in physics’ journals and presented over 30 technical talks at professional meetings covering his research on the electrical and optical properties of semiconductor materials.

As an executive with IBM Research Division, he was responsible for many functions, including Ph.D. recruiting, university relations, government contracts, technical publishing, library services, awards and recognition, patent liaison, research communications, and central scientific services.  Dr. Turner was honored as a fellow of the American Physical Society and received the IBM Research Division Outstanding Achievement Award in 1986. In 1987, he was appointed to a White House Initiative Science and Technology Advisory Committee on Historically Black Colleges and Universities.

Bill was married to his beloved wife, Marilyn Ann (Vande Voorde) Turner for 69 years. Together they raised four children in Bedford, N.Y. where he served as both president of the Bedford Central School District Board of Education for ten years and as a member and head of the Parish Council of St. Francis of Assisi Church in Mount Kisco, N.Y.

Bill and Marilyn initially retired to New Hope, P.A. and finally settled in Audubon, P.A. in 2009. Bill was a life-long, faithful Catholic and member of St. Teresa of Avila Church in Audubon, P.A. 

Bill is survived by his wife, Marilyn A. Turner, his children Eileen M. (Leonard) Mitchard of Annapolis, M.D.; Patrick W. (Lynn) Turner of Chester, N.J.; Ann C. Turner (Terry) Allen of Binghamton, N.Y.; and Matthew J. (Suzanne) Turner of Troy, N.Y; ten grandchildren and a great-grandson. Bill’s greatest pride and joy was his family. His legacy is one of a devoted and loving husband, father and grandfather who instilled in his children and grandchildren the importance of education and hard work, as well as the values of honesty, integrity and kindness.

Bill was preceded in death by his dear sister, Katherine Kirby, who also held a Ph.D. in Physics.

A funeral Mass will be held Tuesday, October 27, 2020 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Teresa of Avila Church, 1260 S. Trooper Road, Audubon, P.A.

There will be a private family viewing on Tuesday, October 27, 2020, from 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. at Moore, Snear & Ruggiero Funeral Home, 19 East Germantown Pike, East Norriton, P.A. 

Interment will take place on Wednesday, October 28 at 12:00 p.m. at St. Francis of Assisi Cemetery, 236 Lexington Avenue, Mt. Kisco, N.Y.  

Memorial contributions may be made in his memory to Villanova University Student Emergency Fund, 800 E. Lancaster Avenue, Villanova, PA 19085 or The Fund for Catholic University, 620 Michigan Avenue N.E., Washington DC 20064