Bertlen F. Turner Sr.

Bertlen Frederick Turner, Sr. 93, of Whitehall, New York, passed away peacefully on January 22, 2024, after a brief illness. Bert was born in Avon, Connecticut on May 28, 1930, the son of the late Frederick and Nellie (Chidsey) Turner. He was raised in Avon, CT and lived in East Granby, CT before moving to Whitehall, NY.  Bert graduated from the University of Denver with a Law Degree and spent most of his 65-year career practicing law in Connecticut and New York. When he passed the NY State Bar late in his career, he was the oldest person to have done so.  He worked as the Assistant District Attorney in Washington County, NY. 

He was a Boy Scout and volunteered as a scoutmaster for his sons. His true passion was hunting (especially turkeys) and the outdoors. He enjoyed turkey hunting into his 90s. He also enjoyed collecting turkey memorabilia. He was active in the East Granby CT Lions Club and a founding member of the Whitehall NY Lions Club.

He was predeceased by his partner of thirty years, Ann Rodd, of Whitehall, NY. He leaves a daughter, Dorothy Dunne of Palmer, AK; three sons, Bertlen Frederick Turner, Jr. and his wife Pamela of East Windsor, CT; Bryan Turner and his wife Karen of Wrentham, MA; Randall Turner of Tucson, AZ and grandchildren, Brandon McDowell, Gabrielle McDowell, Noah Shepard and his wife Elise, Ian Shepard and his wife Meagan, Kegan Shepard, Cortney Sorenson and her husband Daniel, Cara Bivona and her husband Justin, Matthew Turner, Nora Belcher and her husband Rob, Rachel Turner, Sean Turner, Jack Turner, Frederick Turner, Nathan Turner, Curtis Arquette and his wife Kimberly of Granville, NY, and twelve great-grandchildren. He was also predeceased by his brothers Lionel Turner, Marvin Turner, and Marvin’s wife Nancy. 

Visitation for family and friends will be from 2pm-3pm on Saturday January 23, 2024 with a service at 3pm at the Jillson Funeral Home, Inc., 46 Williams Street, Whitehall, NY 12887.  A graveside service will follow, at a later date, at the West Avon Cemetery, 280 Country Club Rd, Avon, CT.

Bert's family has requested that in lieu of flowers memorial contributions can be made to the National Wild Turkey Federation or the Whitehall Community Food Pantry.

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