Robert James Turner Sr

Robert "Bob" Turner, age 80, loved to fly and spent a great deal of his life at the controls of an airplane, helicopter and hot air balloon. On Tuesday, January 31 he finally got his wings when he died peacefully at Wexford House.

Bob was born and raised in Greenville, South Carolina. As a youth he attended McCallie Academy in Chattanooga then later North Carolina State University. After school he enlisted in the Army where he got his pilots license and learned to fly. From that point on he spent as much time as possible in various types of aircraft.

He moved to this area to begin a career at Eastman Kodak and with the exception of a brief assignment in NYC, he lived the remainder of his life in Kingsport.

Bob, alongside his wife Peggy, dedicated his life to raising his family. He was an active member of the Kiwanis Club of Kingsport for over 25 years.

After retirement from Eastman, Bob got his license to fly hot air balloons. With this he joined a new family in the ballooning community in our area. For over 20 years he spent as much time as possible drifting over the skies of Kingsport.

Bob was preceded in death by his wife of 39 years, Peggy Maddux Turner; parents Harold R. and Anne S. Turner; and his brother, Harold Turner.

Survivors are his children Robert J. Turner, Jr. of Atlanta; David R. Turner of Nashville; Cindy Lemons and husband David of Kingsport and two grandchildren Wells Robert and Lauren Lemons of Kingsport.

A family graveside service will be 3:00 p.m. Thursday at Oak Hill Memorial Park.

After a private burial, there will be a memorial service at First Broad Street United Methodist Church at 5pm with Rev. Mickey Rainwater officiating. The family will receive friends following the service from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at the church.

Memorial contributions may be made to: Boy Scouts of America, Sequoyah Council, 129 Boone Ridge Drive, Johnson City, TN 37615.