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Ron enjoyed family time working with his kids in the Redwood Swim Club, hiking, and camping.

Ronald “Pinch” Turner passed in the early morning hours of May 20, 2026, just four days past his 88th birthday, in the Hospice House of Common Spirit Hospital, Durango, Colorado.

Ron was born on May 16, 1938, to A. Verne Turner and Helen Humphreys Turner in Bakersfield, California joining his older brother Bruce in the family. He remembered spending the summers at Pismo Beach where the family, particularly his mother, could get out of the Bakersfield heat. When Ron was about six years old, his father, a painting contractor, contracted to paint the Pacific Lumber Company town of Scotia in Humboldt County and moved the family there. When the job concluded, the family decided they were happier in the cool north coast climate (yes, really) and moved to Eureka, California, where his younger brother Scott was born. Ron lived in Eureka the rest of his life, with a couple of breaks for college in the San Francisco Bay Area, until August 2018 when he and Jan moved to Durango, Colorado, to be nearer to family.

Growing up in Eureka, Ron attended Marshall School, Eureka Junior High, and Eureka High School, graduating with the (in)famous Class of 1956. He then attended College of Marin in Kentfield, California where he met Jan FitzGerald. He and Jan were married on July 27, 1958, at the Presbyterian Seminary in Ross, California. They returned to Eureka where Ron worked in the family business, Teez Decorating Materials. Their first child, Mark Richardson Turner was born in 1959, and shortly after they returned to Marin County so Ron could attend the Rudolf Schaefer School of Design. Upon his graduation in 1962, the family returned to Eureka where their daughter Jill was born in October of that year, and where Ron returned to the family business. In the ‘80s Ron left Teez to open his own wholesale decorating materials company where he worked until his retirement in 2003.

Ron was a 50+year member of the First Presbyterian Church where he served as Deacon, Institutional Rep for the church scout troop #65, was an active member of Fellowship groups Voyagers and Midship, but will be most remembered for his portrayal of Snoopy in the Voyager production of “You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown.” He was a very good dancer and danced at every opportunity. He enjoyed family time working with his kids in the Redwood Swim Club, hiking, and camping. The family enjoyed theatre in Ashland, Oregon and in Ferndale and Eureka. He was a founding member of the Redwood Growth Investment Club and of the Bison Brigade, a group of four friends (Ron, Pete Vallerga, Dan Hauser, and Roger Miller) who decided to continue their hiking together that started with scouting. Over 30+ years they backpacked, then camped, and finally progressed to renting cabins.

In retirement, Ron and Jan indulged their love of travel, both on road trips and abroad. They traveled many cross-country routes visiting their kids and took several cruises, their favorites being the river cruises in Europe. They traveled much in Mexico and finally settled on Oaxaca as the place they just liked to go and “be.” They made many good friends there, returning in February and March for several years with their last trip in 2025. We hope to gather family there in 2027 for a memorial for Ron in his “happy place.”

Ron’s very favorite thing was to study Spanish and share his knowledge, helping those who wanted to learn and annoying the rest of us. He tutored Mexicans in English and Gringos in Spanish, right up until he went into the hospital.

Ron was preceded in death by his parents, brother Scott Turner, Jan’s parents Frank and Portia FitzGerald, and sister-in-law Judy FitzGerald. He is survived by his wife of almost 68 years, Jan Turner; brother Bruce Turner (Demi); sister-in-law Connie Turner; son Mark Turner (Kelly); daughter Jill Wright (Ted); grandchildren Portia Turner, Tuxford Turner, Kara Cavalca (Natan), and Cameron Wright; very special Great grandchild Matteo Cavalca; sister-in-law Susan Yoder (John); niece Jocelyn Hallroan (Jim); great-nieces Mackenzie and Riley Hallroan; and nephew Devon Turner.

There will be no public services. A week-long private family gathering was held in Durango in May. Ron was cremated and his ashes will be scattered in all his favorite places. Memorial donations may be made to Native Hope c/o Summit Church, 2917 Aspen Drive, Durango, CO 81301, to Fundacion En Via at their website, or to a favorite charity. Mark also requests that you have a drink of bourbon and tell Ron stories, being sure to record them for our family’s enjoyment.