Beatrice Louise Turner
2006
Beatrice Louise Shriver Turner, 84, a homemaker, church member and secretary, died of complications of heart arrhythmia May 18 at Calvert Memorial Hospital.
She was born in Baltimore and was a resident of Southeast Washington for most of her life. She graduated with honors from Eastern High School. Mrs. Turner worked for years at an insurance office at Seventh Street and Pennsylvania Avenue NW, near where the Navy Memorial stands.
In November 1942, she married Richard C. Turner, who was serving in the Army at Fort Myer, after he obtained the approval of Gen. George S. Patton, who had to authorize marriages of his subordinates.
While her husband was overseas during World War II, she gave birth to twin boys. One of them, Richard, died in infancy. She did it all by herself, and she never complained her husband said. In all the years I knew her, she never had a mean word to say about anyone.
After the war, her husband coached sports at a public school near their home, and she volunteered as PTA president, Little League secretary and lunch provider for children in her Anacostia neighborhood. Schoolboys would pocket their lunch money and turn up at her kitchen for pickles or peanut-butter sandwiches, her husband said.
Mrs. Turner taught Sunday school at the old Wilson Memorial Church in Washington, sang in the church choir and was president of the Ladies Society and the Youth Group. She was later a member of the Capitol Hill United Methodist Church.
She could spell anything, and her handwriting was beautiful, her husband said.
In addition to her husband, of Washington, survivors include two sons, Michael Turner of Calvert County and Robert Turner of Panama City Beach, Fla.; a sister; five grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.