Stanley Ray Turner II was a true gentleman. Stan – also known as husband, Dad, Grandad, brother, and of course, “Too Short” to his Ruritans – left this world peacefully on April 11. The story of his life is a beautiful story of love, kindness, and his selfless caring for others.

He leaves behind his beautiful wife of 6 years, Robin Jeanne Turner, with whom he created a beautiful family and many wonderful memories. He is also survived by their children and their spouses Laura and Rob Reid, Abbie and David Meier and James and Amanda Willett who all knew and loved him as Dad; his grandchildren, Owen Reid, Ruby Reid, Gracie Willett and Hallie Meier; his sisters, Raye Atkins and Barbara O’Brien, and their spouses that Stan always treated as brothers, Jess Atkins and Ed O’Brien; and his sisters-in-law, Phyllis Cox (Carson) and Marsha Lightsey. He also leaves behind numerous nieces and nephews, great nieces and nephews, his first wife and Laura’s mom, Helen Worthington, as well as dear friends, Darden and Sheila Stallings. He was preceded in death by his parents, Frances Elder Turner and Stanley Ray Turner (S. Ray), and his Mother-in-Love, Jean Goodrich.

Stan was kind and welcoming to everyone he met, and we hope everyone who knew him remembers his smile, his warmth, and his ability to sneak a joke into most any conversation. He was a dedicated believer in Christ and gave his skills, time, and love to the Isle of Wight Christian Church; his life is his ministry and his testimony. Stan was a graduate of Virginia Tech, where he majored in Mechanical Engineering. He spent his career at Norfolk Naval Shipyard, and retired as a Supervisory Nuclear Engineer in 2007. (Many of you may remember that retirement party, where the bucket of the tractor served as a cooler.) For his whole life, but especially after he retired, he used his skills and gifts for woodworking, gardening, and undertaking projects in support of the Ruritans and his church. His last passion project was a beautiful kitchen that he renovated into a work of art and a symbol of his careful attention to detail. “Measure twice, cut once,” he always said. He served the local and national Ruritan organization, as a lifetime member of the Isle of Wight Ruritan Club (where he wore many hats) and served two terms as Holland District Governor from 2012-13, was Ruritan of the Year in 2016 and he also served as National Director from 2017-2019. Stan loved giving back to his community through serving others. Some of his favorite Ruritan projects included the Annual Brunswick Stew cooking and running the Ruritan food tent at the Isle of Wight County Fair.

You can tell that Stan didn’t write this, because if he had, the punchline would be here. Instead, we will finish his story by remembering and celebrating his life on Saturday, May 4, 2024 at 11:00 AM at R.W. Baker & Co. Funeral Home and Crematory, Downtown Suffolk Chapel, 509 W. Washington St., Suffolk, Virginia. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in honor of Stan to the Isle of Wight Ruritan Scholarship Fund because he believed in higher education. Marsha Powers C/O Isle of Wight Ruritan Treasurer, 7410 Sadler Rd. Wakefield, VA 23888. Condolences may be registered at RWBakerFH.com.