Ronald Andrew Turner – Age 86 years old of Nashville, TN. Passed away peacefully on April 20, 2026.
Ron was born on July 28, 1939, in Hazard, KY to Paul Andrew Turner and Pauline “Pete” Anderson. He attended Southport High School in Indiana, graduating in 1958, and served in the Navy from 1959 to 1962 in San Diego, CA. He was an American Spirit Award nominee in his graduating company. While in the Navy he served on the US naval ship AH-12 Haven as a Hospital Corpman, Second Class. He received specialized medical training and assisted in surgeries as an Operating Room tech. He then joined the Navy Reserves where he worked in an emergency room in Key West, FL.
Building off of his experience in the Navy, he went on to study at Cerritos Jr College where he had 3 years of pre-med and gained an AA degree in laboratory sciences. In 1968 he went to the USC school of cytotechnology. He then briefly went to the University of TN. In total, he worked for 10 years in surgery and 37 years as a cytotechnologist and histotechnologist in most of the hospitals and private labs in and around Nashville. Program development and teaching were also a passion during this time, for he helped develop a program for Operation Room techs while working at St Thomas Hospital and was a cytology instructor for 3 years at Vanderbilt University School of Cytotechnology.
Outside of work, Ron had a deep passion for hunting and archery and was well-known for his kind nature and easy-going spirit.
He was an active member of the Tennessee Longhunter’s Association and Davidson County Sportsman Club where he taught hunter’s safety courses. In the past he belonged to the Southern Association of Cytotechnologists, The Odd Fellows, several bee keeping organizations and the National Speleological society.
Ron is survived by his spouse of 57 years, Harriet Turner; their 2 children, Andrew (Beth) Turner and Andrea (Shannon) Casey; 5 grandchildren, Shay Turner, Brennen and Brooks Sheridan, Samantha and Jamie Casey; many nephews, nieces and cousins. He was preceded in death by parents, Paul Andrew Turner and Pauline “Pete” Anderson and brother, Paul Anthony “Tony” Turner.
A Celebration of Life service will be held on May 31, 2026, with visitation at 2:00 p.m. and service at 3:00 p.m. at Woodbine Funeral Home, Hickory Chapel, 5852 Nolensville Road. Friends and family are welcome to attend and share their favorite memories.
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This obituary was published by Woodbine Funeral Home – Hickory Chapel.
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