SSG Peter Y Turner II
Called "Pappy Pete" by people dear to him.
SSG Peter Y Turner II, ACE, was born June 29, 1968 and died by suicide July 7, 2012 at the age of 44. Pete was diagnosed with PTSD.
Pete grew up in Fairmont WV and joined the Army after graduation and served as a computer programmer at Fort Lee, Virginia. He also worked for the Federal Aviation Administration in Virginia and for the Department of the Navy in Louisiana. He joined the WV National Guard in 1993 and served with the 152nd MP Detachment in Moundsville WV. He deployed to Bosnia-Herzegovinia as a section in Operation Joint Endeavor.
He was deeply involved in service to his community. He was a member of Acacia Lodge 157 AF&AM, Scottish Rite 32nd degree KCCH, Orient Chapter 9 RAM, Osiris Shrine of Wheeling WV, Fort Henry York Rite College #61, WV Council #7 Knight Masons, WV College Masonic Rosicrucians, Fairmont Chapter #34 Order of the Eastern Star, Royal Order of Scotland, Fairmont VFW, and Valley Chapel UM Church. He was a founding member of the West Virginia Jeep Club, where loved going off-road in his Jeep named "Sarge". He was an avid hunter and fishermen and loved spending time at hunting camp, his family camp at Big Bear Lake and travelling. He loved all things WVU (West Virginia University), Pittsburgh Steelers and the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Although he never had children of his own, he loved his step children and all 7 grandchildren. He loved spending time with his wife Judy and husky Maxime. He loved all of his grandchildren, but Mallori stole his heart. He loved watching her grow and the milestones that she reached. They spent one of his last days picking "wishes" in the yard. They will forever share a special bond. He ended his life on her third birthday.
Pete is buried at the WV National Cemetery Grafton with his fallen brothers and sisters. Judy visits him often and has formed TEAM TURNER, a fund-raising group, in his honor that supports Wreaths Across America specifically for the cemetery where he is buried.
