Mr. Arlin Burl Turner

Arlin Burl Turner, 78, died on August 10, 2022 from complications of Parkinson’s Disease that was connected to exposure to the defoliant Agent Orange during his service in Vietnam during the Vietnam War. Arlin was born in Clay County Alabama on October 30, 1943, the youngest of six children. The family would eventually settle in Oxford, Alabama on Howle Road in a house that was directly underneath the final approach path to Runway 23 at the Anniston-Oxford airport. This early exposure to aviation kindled a lifelong love of airplanes and aviation that he shared with and passed on to his son. Arlin attended and graduated from Oxford High School and received his B.S degree in Mathematics from Jacksonville State University July 1965. Initially after graduating from JSU, Arlin taught middle school math in Spartanburg, South Carolina. However, as the war in Vietnam escalated, Arlin was called to military service and joined the United States Marine Corps in 1967. After completing Officer Candidate School in Quantico, Virginia and Naval Flight Officer training in Pensacola, Florida, now 1ST Lieutenant Turner received his Wings of Gold and orders to El Toro, California to learn how to operate the weapons systems of the F-4 Phantom II. After an accelerated training syllabus, Arlin was assigned to VMFA 122, the “Crusaders”, in Japan. Shortly after he arrived in Japan, the squadron deployed to Chu Lai in the Republic of Vietnam and immediately began combat operations. Arlin flew numerous combat missions during his year-long tour. After leaving the Marine Corps in 1971 (active duty) and 1973 (reserves), Arlin spent the next 40 years working in management and leadership positions in the textile industry for a variety of leading manufacturers, Russell Athletic being one. While at Russell Athletic, Arlin helped spearhead the opening and development of new manufacturing and distribution in Mount Airy, North Carolina. In 1982, he earned the MBA degree from Auburn University at Montgomery. When he retired from his final textile company, Anvil Knitwear (now Garan), he was managing their 16-acre Distribution Center in Dillon, South Carolina. The Distribution building was so large, that Air Force F-16’s from nearby Seymour Johnson Air Base used it as a checkpoint on their low-level navigation training routes, routinely flying overhead — very low and very fast —to former military aviator Arlin’s delight. Always with an eye for efficiency and new technology, Arlin developed and implemented a barcode scan inventory picking and placing system for Anvil Knitwear that ensured inventory was always tracked and that products did not get lost, misplaced, or become stale. In retirement, Arlin was able to engage in his passion for reading and learning new things. He particularly enjoyed history and historical biographies about the innovative people and the new and developing technologies that helped shape our nation and allow it to prosper. During his first few years of retirement, Arlin earned an associate’s degree in electonics from Gadsden State Community College, while participating in support services for Veterans. Besides the previously mentioned aviation, Arlin also loved automobiles from the muscle car era, and could tell anyone riding in the car with him the make, model, year, and engine displacement just by the silhouette or some obscure styling detail or badge. Arlin is preceded in death by his father, Britton Edward Turner; his mother, Velma Strickland Turner; his brother, Britton Sylvia “Pee Wee” Turner, his brother Aaron Turner, his sister Eulane Taylor, and his sister Reba Adams. He is survived by his brother Carman Turner (Billie); his wife, Dr. Rebecca O’Kelley Turner; his daughter Rebecca Turner Williams (Andrew); and his son, Britton Edward Turner, II (Darlene White Day), nieces and nephews, and friends in several states with whom he worked and shared life. Funeral Information: Visitation with the family will be Sunday, August 14, 2022, from 6:00-7:30 PM at Miller Funeral Home, 50 Hamric Drive E., Oxford, Alabama. A graveside military service will be held at 1:15 PM on Monday, August 15, 2022, at the National Cemetery in Montevallo, Alabama. Flowers will be accepted and donations may be made to the Jacksonville State University Foundation for the benefit of the Dr. Rebecca O. Turner Faculty Commons, 700 Pelham Road North, Jacksonville State University.

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Mr. Arlin Burl Turner

October 30, 1943 - August 10, 2022