Dale E. Turner

Aviation Bio by Dale Turner, Feb. 6, 2014 My parents Carl and Blanche Turner were farmers in northwest Indiana where I was born in 1928. I remember well the first airplane I ever saw, I was 4 or 5 years old, in a field with my Dad, a biplane flew over at a low altitude. I was mesmerized by the wonder of it all and have ever since been fascinated with aircraft. With my brother Arnold, 8 years older than I, built models. I had an Oleson 23 model engine on a Zipper. Used to run that thing in the house, the noise and smell must have been awful but I thought it was great! Wonder we didn't get kicked out of the house permanently. Had wonderfully tolerant parents! Arnold joined the Army Air Corps in 1938 and became a crew chief on C-47's. His C-47 squadron was the first to fly the Atlantic, participated in Torch [the Africa invasion], Sicily, Italy, France, A Bridge to Far, Bastone, etc. I idolized him. He was lucky and came thru WW2 without a scratch. I, in the meantime, eventually reached 16 in 1944, hit my mother up for flying lessons, she said sure as long as you pay for them. So I started working, first for a neighbor at $1.25 a day picking up haybales. Soon decided there had to be a better way and started washing planes, pumping gas, etc. at Cedar Lake Airport, IN. Don Bowton [a wonderful guy, spent many hours trying to teach me navigation] owned it and two prewar Aeronca Chiefs which I soloed with 4 hours 50 minutes. Plane with instructor was $6.00 an hour to best of my recollection, I usually could afford only 15 minutes at a time so it was slow going but I loved it. On reaching 18 joined the US Army Air Forces (soon to be US Air Force) thinking I'd get in some aspect of aviation. Well, they made me an x-ray tech which turned out to be a good thing though I'd rather been flying. While at the base, I worked part-time at the Greenville, SC FBO and managed to get some civil flying picking up planes left around the country due to weather or mechanical problems. After military discharge I entered National College of Drugless Physicians, Chicago, IL and graduated with Doctor of Chiropractic (DC) and Naturopathic Doctor (ND) degrees. This is where I met Tedi, my wife, also attending there to become a doctor. She has been the light of my life, loving and very tolerant of my aberrations which included airplanes, boats, sports cars and motorcycles. Tedi led me to CT where her parents were Naturopathic doctors. Her father passed away soon after, I took over his practice which gave me a jump start. Practiced with Tedi for 40 years, first by ourselves then formed a multi-doctor natural health care complementary medicine facility, total of 26 years in CT. Within a year of graduation I had bought my first plane, a Fairchild PT-26, then a Swift, a J-3, Mooney M-20C, a M-20E [great plane] which I flew for 11 years, then a Beech-55 Baron, a delightful airplane, had it till retired [1st time] in 1980, it was then we moved to Punta Gorda, FL. Had to sell the Baron, being retired couldn't afford it any more. Became bored after 4 years retirement, started a Chiropractic practice in Punta Gorda until retired again after 14 years. Followed the Baron with partnership in Mooney M-20C with Vern Adams, followed with partnership in BD-4 with Lee Pope. 1983 bought Mooney M-20E from Dick Allison, an old friend from CT. Sold it to Tom D'Andrea in 2003, it was destroyed in Hurricane Charlie, too bad, good plane. In 1984 Chan Sarles and I built twin (2) P-70 Acey Deucy's experimental planes. I flew mine [N-17DT] for 31 years, great buzzard and wild hog chaser! In 2003 sold engine and prop, donated frame to Charlotte Technical Center for their aviation maintenance program school and hung up a lifetime of flying after 69 years, and over 7,000 hours. Proud to be long time member of the Quiet Birdman, QB #17,031, and the Experimental Aircraft Assoc. Chap. 565 Punta Gorda Airport, and served as a Charlotte County Airport Authority Commissioner in 1980's. I would not have traded the many experiences and life-long friendships incurred thru aviation, and other social groups. It's been a GREAT life! Dale lived a fulfilling life and will be greatly missed by his loving daughter and son-in-law, Gail and Dave Heveron; his nieces Ginny, Judy, Debbie, and Linda; and many beloved friends. At 90 years of age, he was preceded in death by the love of his life, his wife of 67 years, Theodora "Tedi" Turner; and by his brother Arnold C. Turner. This year EAA Chap. 565 honored Dale with a Life Membership which meant a lot to him. Dale was submitted by a pilot, who he mentored, for the prestigious FAA Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award; Dale was told he was granted but had not yet received the award. Memorial service to be held on Monday, December 3, 2018, 11:00 a.m. at Callaloo Restaurant, 5500 Deltona Ave., Punta Gorda with Rev. Bob Carlson of Punta Gorda 1st United Methodist Church officiating. Memorial Donations may be made to Experimental Aircraft Association Chapter 565, 2900 Airport Rd. Box 19A, Punta Gorda, FL 33982. To express condolences to the family, please sign the online guest book