LA PORTE, Ind. — Millard Selden (Mel) Turner Jr. passed away peacefully at home in La Porte, Ind., on Thursday, Nov. 12, 2009. He was 65 years old.
Mel was a 1961 graduate of North East High School. He earned a bachelor of arts degree in business administration from Grove City College in 1966 and was hired out of college by the United States Steel Railroads.
He enjoyed a 36-year career with the railroad, where he held 19 different positions that included superintendent of the Bessemer, Lake Erie and Union Railroad in Pittsburgh, as well as superintendent of the Elgin Joliet and Eastern (EJ&E;) Railway in Joliet, Ill. While on the EJ&E; he was presented two Harriman Awards for safety. In August 2002, Millard retired as general manager of EJ&E.;
Mel was instrumental in donating rail cars and a tower to the Griffith Historical Society, Griffith, Ind. He was past president of both the American Association of Railroad Superintendents and the Chicago Railroad Superintendents Association. Located just outside of Joliet on the EJ&E; Railway, Turner Junction was named in his honor. He loved railroads, dogs, sailing, baseball and good friends.
Surviving Mel is his wife of 34 years, Ruth A. Turner; a daughter, Natalie Turner of La Porte; a son, Jeffrey Turner and his wife, Mary, of Chicago, Ill.; two sisters, Carole Shaw and her husband, Ray, of Naples, Fla.; and Jeannette Waxham and her husband, Melvin, of Collierville, Tenn.; a brother, Steve Turner of Jacksonville, Fla.; as well as many nieces, and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; Millard and Dorothy Turner; and his beloved dog, Buddy.
The funeral will be at Van Matre Family Funeral Home, 335 Venango Ave., Cambridge Springs, on Friday, at 10 a.m., followed by interment in Mitchell Cemetery in Cambridge Springs. A reception honoring Millard Turner will be held in 2010 in the Chicagoland area.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that a donation be made in Mel’s honor to the Griffith Historical Society P.O. Box 678, Griffith, Ind. 46319.
