James Paul Turner
Funeral services for Mr. James Paul Turner, age 102, of Ruston, will be held at 11 a.m., Tuesday, March 14, 2023, at Wesley Chapel Methodist Church in Ruston with Rev. Dana Thrash officiating. Burial will follow in the Wesley Chapel Cemetery in Ruston under the direction of Owens Memorial Chapel Funeral Home of Ruston.
James was born November 17, 1920, in Quitman, to William Turner and Addie Causey and passed away March 8, 2023 in Ruston. He served in the United States Army as sergeant during World War II, in the invasion of Normandy for D-Day, campaigns of Northern France, Rhineland and Ardennes in the Battle of the Bulge and central Europe.
James was a tank driver in the 746 Tank Battalion and received a Bronze Star, a Purple Heart and a Bronze Indian Head for his services. After the war, he became a carpenter and retired as a heavy construction worker where he had a degree in blueprint reading and built nuclear reactors.
James returned home to care for his parents after retirement and returned to carpentry, building many houses until retiring again at the age of 94. Building was his passion. James had a great sense of humor. He was an avid outdoorsman and enjoyed hunting and fishing. James loved to spend time with his family.
He was a Mason and was a member of the Wesley Chapel Methodist Church.
James was preceded in death by his wife of 57 years and the love of his life Marjorie Louise Day Turner; three brothers, Claudie Mitchell Turner, William “Billy” Turner and Rhode Turner; and one sister, Minnie Neeles.
James is survived by his sons, Michael Turner of Ruston and Stephen Turner and wife Sylvia of Choudrant; granddaughter, Sarah Louise Turner Castaneda and husband Dylan Castaneda of Ruston; grandson, Joshua Paul Turner and wife Chelsey of Farmerville; step- grandson David Horn of Ruston; three great-grandchildren, Emery Castaneda of Ruston, Olivia Castaneda of Ruston and Madison Turner of Farmerville; two sisters, Addie Pearl “Pep” Lynde of Quitman and Bettye Sue Turner Pate of Jonesboro; and a host of other family and many friends.
Serving as pallbearers will be Dylan Castaneda, Billy Pipes, Will Neeles, JR Farley, Joshua Turner and Chris Love. Honorary pallbearers are Charles Neeles and Lowell Lynde, Jr.
Visitation will be held from 8- 10 a. m., Tuesday, March 14, 2023, at Owens Memorial Chapel Funeral Home in Ruston.
To leave an online memorial message for the family, please visit www.owensmemorialfuneralhome. com.
