Harold Thompson Turner was born on December 30, 1928, to Reuben Thompson Turner and Alice Mae (Twamley) in Durham, Ontario.
Harold was the eldest of eight children and worked on the family farm in Scone at an early age and for a short time at Fleming Construction. Later he worked alongside Mary on the nearby farm, and also worked with Archie Sampson doing septic work. Harold was employed many years at the Scone Grist Mill and later at the Chesley Co-op Feed Mill. In apple season, he often travelled to Meaford to pick apples.
Harold was not afraid of hard work and loved the farm and the bounty it had to offer.
With his loved horses (Queenie and Blondie to name two), he pulled logs from the bush, drew manure to the fields and picked stones. They raised a mix of cattle, horses, pigs, turkeys, and chickens over the years.
Dad loved his apple picking and strawberry, raspberry and blueberry picking. He had a very hard time to leave even one unpicked and many neighbours, friends and family enjoyed the fruits of his labour. His green thumb for flowers, gardens and home-grown raspberries were an envy to many. Harold also travelled to the Niagara area when the peaches were ready to pick.
Dad was a “meat and potatoes” man – none of this rice and pasta stuff!! He loved his veggies (parsnips and tomatoes were two of his favorites) and he never left anything on his plate. You could hardly tell it was even used! He certainly enjoyed a good home cooked meal.
Harold and Mary enjoyed travelling and were on many trips to the Prairies and Victoria, B.C. visiting relatives. They especially loved the Rockies, Lake Louise and the Butchart Gardens in Victoria was always a must stop. Harold and Mary occasionally travelled back through the northwest States. They also took a bus trip to the East Coast.
In 1973, Harold and Mary sold the farm and moved to their home in Elmwood where they spent several years before retiring to Hallman Apartments in Hanover. When Mary passed in 2004, Harold eventually moved to Birmingham Lodge in Mount Forest closer to his daughter Mary who faithfully helped to care for him.
Dad was a gentle, kind, caring, loving man. We are going to miss that twinkle in his eye, that sly little grin and that hardy laugh. He never raised his voice in anger and was ready to help anyone in need. Harold was very outgoing and loved to visit and chat about the “good old days” and was able to share this with many at the Lodge. He also enjoyed church services, the old time music, the fish tank and bingo held at the Lodge. The only TV Dad really found worth watching were nature shows or the Toronto Maple Leaf and Blue Jays games. One of his favourite pastimes was doing jigsaw puzzles and many have a keepsake one that he completed and mounted with great care. This pastime was especially important and helped pass the time during COVID which placed a lot of stress on our seniors being masked, locked down and isolated for long periods of time with few visitors or activities. Sadly, we lost out on that time with Dad.
We were so privileged to have a “Dad” in our life who cared for us and loved us as his own and set such a good example as we grew up. He taught us to be kind, hard-working, to be content and thankful for what we have and to enjoy the simple things in life. His faith in God gives us the assurance today that he is now in heaven no longer suffering.
Dad was blessed by a long and relatively healthy life. Sadly, on March 15th he suffered a fall and broken hip. Following surgery in Waterloo and the transfer to Louise Marshall Hospital in Mount Forest, his body never recouped and he passed away on Saturday, April 8th, 2023 in his 95th year.
Dad (Pa) will be lovingly missed by his daughter Mary Alles of Mount Forest, sons John (Pauline) McAughey of Waterloo, and Larry (Judy) Charlton of West Grey, and daughter-in-law Kate Charlton of Chesley. Proud grandfather of Cathy Dahms, Jim Sulkye, Lisa (Don) Dennison, Jay (Anna) McAughey, Alicia (Craig) Rogers, and Matthew (Crystal) Charlton, and great-grandfather of Steven (Kristen), Justin, Travis, Jacob, Ben, Jonah, Keegan, Ethan, and Abbie, and recent great-great-grandfather of Sebastian. Survived by his brother Melvin (Karin), his sisters Margaret Anderson, and Frieda Dippel, his sister-in-law Audrey Turner, and brother-in-law Emmerson Stevenson.
Predeceased by his loving wife Mary (2004), son Harry Charlton (2016), sons-in-law John Alles and Ken Sulkye, brothers Grant, Ross, and Howard, sister Eunice Stevenson, and brothers-in-law Orland Dippel and Morley Anderson and his parents.
Visitation will be held at Rhody Family Funeral Home on Monday, April 17, 2023, from 12 noon until the time of the funeral service at 2 p.m. Interment in Chesley Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations to the War Amps, Children’s Wish Foundation or charity of your choice would be appreciated as expressions of sympathy.
