Donald Bruce Turner

Donald Bruce Turner passed away on November 22, 2023. Bruce was born on September 17, 1931, in Belle Plaine, Iowa. The family moved to Cedar Rapids and Vinton before settling in Cedar Falls. There, he attended Cedar Falls High School where he ran track and was the band’s drum major. He also was active in the Boy Scouts, earning the highest honor of Eagle Scout. After high school graduation, Bruce attended Carleton College where he ran track and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics. He then joined the United States Air Force, becoming a weather forecaster at various locations in France during the height of the cold war. While on assignment at the University of Chicago, he met his future wife Margaret Ann Frantz and married in 1955.

After leaving active duty, Bruce attended the University of Michigan where he obtained a Master of Science in Meteorology. Upon graduation, he joined the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) with his first assignment in Cincinnati, Ohio. When the Environmental Protection Agency was created in 1970, Bruce was assigned to various branches of the EPA in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, living in Chapel Hill, North Carolina with his family.

His 1967 publication of the Workbook of Atmospheric Dispersion Estimates was a critical and Influential work in the field of Air Pollution and was the basis of much of his future work and publications. He also was a contributing author to other publications related to air pollution. He obtained his credential as a Certified Consulting Meteorologist and after retiring from NOAA in 1989, worked for Trinity Consulting for the next 20 years (initially full time and then part time) and retired completely in 2009.

Bruce was a proud veteran, active in his church and loved spending time with his family.  He was an avid bridge player and enjoyed traveling, reading, listening to music, and cheering for the North Carolina Tarheels. He is preceded in death by his parents (Anne R. Turner and Donald C. Turner) and his wife of 48 years (Ann Turner). He is survived by his children Laura Turner, Marc Turner, and Donna Turner Jones (JP Jones) and his grandsons Ryan Jones and Kyle Jones.

Bruce will be buried next to his wife, Ann, in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.  A graveside service will be planned for spring 2024.  In lieu of flowers, a memorial gift can be made to Alpharetta Presbyterian Church (www.alpharettapres.com) in his name or mail to 180 Academy Street, Alpharetta, GA 30009.