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William Turner, Sr.
In Memory of
William Lovette
Turner, Sr.
1940 - 2018
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Obituary for William Lovette Turner, Sr.

William Lovette Turner, Sr., at age 78 went home to be with the Lord on Saturday, March 31, 2018 at the Hubbard Hospice House in Charleston, WV. He was born March 12, 1940 to parents William Tuner and Ophelia (Edwards) Hopkins.

William attended Montgomery and Simmons Sr. High Schools. He attended Marshall University and graduated from West Virginia Institute of Technology, where he finished with a Bachelor of Science Degree. He was the first African-American graduate to play any sport at West Virginia Institute of Technology. He played varsity basketball there and still holds the current record for single assists.

William married Deloris Hale-Turner in 1961. Together they raised two sons and lived in Smithers and Boomer, WV.

William was employed and retired from the Kanawha County School District. He taught History, Phys Ed and was a basketball coach for 30+ years. He was a pillar in the community, where he loved and enjoyed interacting with many of the children.

In 2001, William was inducted into the West Virginia Tech Athletic Hall-of-Fame. In 2010, he was an inductee and in 2011, a “Legend” of the All Black Schools Sports and Academic Hall of Fame.

William was loved by all and will be truly missed. He is preceded in death by his parents William Turner and Ophelia (Edwards) Hopkins; beloved grandmother (who raised him), Hattie Turner; Uncle, Sargent Joseph (Artie) Turner; brothers, Richard Turner, Norman Turner, and Lawson Hopkins.

With loving memories, William is survived by his wife, Deloris; sons, William (Mina) Turner, Jr., Joseph Turner; granddaughter, Lachelle Guinn; daughter-in-law, Melissa Coleman; brother, General Joseph (Norma) Turner; sister, Charlotte (John) Fuller; sisters-in-law, Anna (William) Lewis, Rena (Marvin) Hale-Morgan; brother-in-law, Gordon (Rena) Mitchell; special friend and teammate, Dave West and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and other friends and relatives.

Service will be at 1PM on Saturday, April 7, 2018 at Boomer Missionary Baptist Church with Rev. Robert Frazier and Rev. Ronald Smith officiating. Burial will follow at Kanawha Valley Memorial Gardens, Glasgow. Friends may call two hours prior to the service at the church. O’Dell Funeral Home, Montgomery is in charge of arrangements. Expressions of sympathy can be sent at www.odellfuneralhome.com
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