Merle B. Turner

Merle B. Turner, age 89, formerly of Wedgetown Road, Bloomsburg, died at 2 a.m. Monday, September 15, 2014 in Orangeville Nursing and Rehab. Center, where he had been a guest since February 2010.

Born in Mt. Pleasant Twp., Columbia County on July 5, 1925, he was a son of the late Ellis and Ruth A. (Beagle) Turner. He had resided in Buckhorn since 1952.

Merle worked as service manager for Metzger Ford Lincoln Mercury, Danville for over 25 years, retiring in 1995.

He served with the U.S. Marine Corps during World War II in the Asiatic Pacific Theatre, where he was wounded in action, receiving the Purple Heart. He was a member of the Purple Heart Association.

Merle was a member of Buckhorn United Methodist Church. Other memberships include Valley of Bloomsburg Post 273, American Legion; Ft. McClure Post 804, VFW; and the Bloomsburg Elks 436; he was a former member of the Columbia-Montour Barbershop Chorus for many years. He was also a former Columbia County 4-H Leader and was active as a Boy Scout Leader for many years. He and his wife enjoyed square dancing in their earlier years.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 63 years, the former Ida Margaret Magill, on December 23, 2010; a son, Thomas B. Turner on October 11, 2013; a sister, Eileen Ashenfelder; and a brother, Fred Turner.

Surviving is a daughter, Janet, wife of Steven Mengle, Bloomsburg; four grandchildren; two great granddaughters; and five siblings: Jane, wife of Herbert Fritz, Orangeville; Helen Shuman; James A. Turner, wife Darlene, all of Bloomsburg; Elaine Snyder, Shamokin Dam and Jon E. Turner, wife Shirley, Bloomsburg.

Funeral services will be held on Friday at 2 p.m. in the Dean W. Kriner, Inc. Funeral Home & Cremation Service, 325 Market Street, Bloomsburg with his pastor, Audrey M. Brosious officiating. Interment in New Rosemont Cemetery, Espy with military services performed by the combined VFW group. The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 6-8 p.m. Thursday or from 1-2 p.m. Friday.

The family will provide flowers. Memorials may be sent to the Wounded Warrior Project - Processing Center, PO Box 758517, Topeka, KS 66675.