Roger RaVon Turner

Roger RaVon Turner, 85, passed away peacefully on Saturday, July 27, 2024 in Ithaca, NY.

Born in a small mining town in West Virginia, Roger traveled the world with his beloved wife Shirley and made many friends and colleagues.

Though there was a stint running two major cable television companies, Roger’s passion and career was in radio broadcasting. He ran radio stations in nearly a dozen states, Park Broadcasting corporately and even did a few months in Poland and Romania representing the Bush administration “teaching” broadcasting in a newly open society. He had the honor to work with his great friend John Babcock at Park Broadcasting in Ithaca and many other great friends and professionals. His greatest professional pleasure was mentoring and growing his executive staff at whatever company he was running.

Roger was a dedicated fly-fisherman and upland game bird hunter. He hunted and fished all over the US, Canada, Mexico, and the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.

Roger and his beloved wife Shirley retired in Pinehurst, NC where they enjoyed golfing, spending time with family and friends and reading on the deck overlooking the golf course.

Roger is survived by his three children, Craig R. (Laura) Turner, of McGraw, NY; Kimberli Turner, of Madison, Ohio and Kevin (Tammy) Turner, of Lakeside, Iowa; eight grandchildren: Stephanie (Jon) Koshuta, Ross (Joy) Turner, Chase (Katie) Turner, Ashley (Andrew) Kane, Rileigh Neal, Dillon Bias, Trace Turner and Trevor Turner; six great- grandchildren; and his sisters, Janice Walker, of Heath, Ohio and Susan Turner Bertie, of Keystone Heights, Florida. He was predeceased by his mother, Cora Lee; his father, John H.; his brother, Randall and his wife of 58 years, Shirley.

A celebration of life will be held in the spring. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Roger’s honor to Hospicare of Ithaca, NY at https://www.hospicare.org/ or The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research.