Wallace Dean Turner, age 87, of Newhope, Ark., passed away April 27, 2024. He was born Oct. 5, 1936, in Forrester, Scott County, Ark., to Virgil and Bertha O’Neal Turner.
Wallace lived in various areas of Arkansas and Indiana, but graduated high school in Kirby, Ark. After graduation he worked as a farm hand for his uncle until he married Lee Ann Evans. He worked for Reese’s Grocery before opening his own store. He worked for Ray Pinkerton in the propane business for several years.
Wallace and his family moved to Alaska in 1984 where he worked for the Chugach School District for 14 years in maintenance before retiring and moving back to Arkansas. He enjoyed gardening and following his sports teams on TV.
Wallace is survived by his wife of 62 years, Lee Ann Turner; son, Walter Turner and wife Melissa of Merida, Yucatan, Mexico; daughters, Lydia Poore and husband Sam of Newhope, Ark., and Linda Tolman and her husband Shawn of Whittier, Alaska; sister, Faye Cargile and her husband Fred of Kirby, Ark.; grandchildren, Donald Kompkoff, Kyla Myers, Jeffrey Kompkoff, Erin Tolman, Lisa Tolman; eight step-grandchildren; great-grandchildren, Taytum Myers, Alice Kompkoff and Lucas Kompkoff; four step-great-grandchildren; and a host of other family and friends.
Visitation will be 5-8 p.m. Wednesday, May 1, 2024, at Smith Family Funeral Home in Glenwood.
A celebration of Wallace’s life will be at 10 a.m. Thursday, May 2, 2024, at Holly Creek Missionary Baptist Church in Dierks with Brother Brian Finn officiating.
Burial will follow at Bear Creek Cemetery in Kirby.
Online guest registry can be found at www.smithfamilycares.com.
