Charles Wilmer's Obituary
Funeral services for Charles Wilmer (Hank) Turner, of Kurthwood, Louisiana will be held at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, September 19, 2015, at Silver Creek Baptist Church, in Leesville, Louisiana. Burial will follow in the Silver Creek Baptist Church Cemetery, under the direction of the Labby Memorial Funeral home of Leesville. Visitation will be Friday, September 18, 2015, from 5:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m., at the Labby Memorial Funeral Home of Leesville, and then from 9:00 a.m. until service time Saturday, at Silver Creek Baptist Church.
Wilmer was born November 21, 1925, the third child of four children born to the late Iona Oakes Turner and William Wesley Turner. Wilmer joined the tenor section of God’s choir on September 16, 2015, at the age of 89 years, 9 months, 26 days.
Wilmer was a retired United States Postal Service employee, beginning his career in the Leesville Post Office and later retiring as Superintendent of Mails from Fort Polk Post Office, Fort Polk, Louisiana.
Wilmer is probably best known and remembered for the love of his church, his undaunted love of all things blooming, and music. He was a member of Silver Creek Baptist Church his entire life and served it and its members as Sunday School Teacher, as well as the church’s pianist and music director. Wilmer taught himself to play the piano at an early age, using the “shape note” method. He remarked often that he could play no other way than with shape notes. He was also the President and Secretary for the Silver Creek Cemetery Association and was instrumental in the reclaiming of old cemeteries fallen into disrepair in surrounding communities.
Wilmer was the Class President and Valedictorian of the 1943 Senior Class, Leesville High School. He was a founding member of the Slagle Water Board, a member of the Vernon Parish Genealogy Society, a Gideon, and avid rock collector.
Wilmer was preceded in death by his parents, as well as his oldest brother, William Reginald Turner, of Florien, Louisiana and his only sister, Jewel Bernice Turner Nance, of Greenwood, Mississippi. He survived by his younger brother and best friend, Zane Turner of Kurthwood as well as 14 nieces and nephews and many great, and great-great nieces and nephews.
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