Donald Eugene Turnage of Dade City, Florida died peacefully on Saturday, March 18th, 2017 at the age of 79 in Tampa, Florida.

Although he would travel and live throughout the United States and the world with the U.S. Navy, Mr. Turnage was born on August 16, 1937 in Lacoochee, Florida, a small town he said had wooden sidewalks. He was preceded in death by his parents, Emma and Marion Turnage, and his sister, Ginger. He graduated from Pasco High School in 1955. He was an offensive lineman on a football team that made a deep state playoff run that year and he was voted most intelligent in his senior year.

He met his high school sweetheart and love of his life at Pasco High, Annette Fay Turnage, who survives him after 57 years of marriage. Mr. Turnage is also survived by a son, Steven Donald Turnage, a lawyer in Gainesville, Florida; a daughter, Susanne Myra Sessoms, a nurse in Zephyrhills, Florida; her husband, Byron Sessoms; and his three grandchildren, Katie Sandy (Turnage), an interior designer in Atlanta, Georgia; Gregory Drew Turnage, a student and offensive lineman at Florida State University; and Joseph Cohen Sessoms of Dade City, Florida.

Mr. Turnage served his country for 20 years attaining the rank of Master Chief Petty Officer. During his military career, Mr. Turnage and his family, enjoyed some of the most wonderful times of their lives living in Italy, Japan, Morocco and throughout the United States. During his travels, Mr. Turnage experienced life to the fullest. He drove his jet black MGA Roadster on the Appian Way; he climbed Mt. Fuji multiple times; he journeyed through the Sahara Desert; he saw the Arctic Circle and he cut ice in the Great Lakes with the greatest Navy in the world.

Following his military career, Mr. Turnage, who loved books and learning his entire life, earned bachelor and masters degrees at The University of Florida and taught high school math and history following graduation. After retiring from teaching in the public schools, Mr. Turnage taught in a Florida Department of Corrections bootcamp and was named Teacher of the Year in 1996.

Later in life, Mr. Turnage became associate pastor at the First Community Church in Dade City, Florida where he tended the needs of the congregation and others in the community. A service for Mr. Turnage will be held at the church on Friday, March 24, 2017 at 11am with a viewing starting at 10am. Mr. Turnage will be buried in the Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell, Florida. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be sent to the First Community Church.

Mr. Turnage was a special husband, father, grandfather and mentor for many people. Learning from a hard childhood and many life experiences, Mr. Turnage could craft a meaningful sermon, but his greatest lesson came not from the pulpit, but from the thoughtful, tolerant and loving way he lived his life.

Visitation

First Community Church of Dade City

Friday, March 24, 2017 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM 37420 Beauchamp Ave Dade City, Florida 33523 Directions Funeral Service

First Community Church of Dade City

Friday, March 24, 2017 11:00 AM 37420 Beauchamp Ave Dade City, Florida 33523 Directions Military Honors

Florida National Cemetery

Friday, March 24, 2017 1:00 PM 6502 SW 102nd Avenue Bushnell, Florida 33513 Directions