Edith June Weller Turner: June 1, 1914 - December 13, 1987

100 Years Ago Today….        

                                       

Edith Marie (Wegener) Weller gave birth to her first child, my grandmother, Edith June Weller on June 1, 1914 in New York, NY.  She was called “June”. She grew up in Manhattan and went to Katharine Gibbs Secretarial School.

She later moved to Montclair, New Jersey with her parents. 

I never knew her as an adult.  I was in high school when she passed.  I wish I would have asked her more questions.

I remember that she wore White Shoulders perfume and loved Julio Iglesias.  She thought he was “dreamy”.  She would light up and start singing whenever he came on the radio.  She taught me how to play poker and introduced me to chocolate flavored soda.  She loved the ocean and taking her children and grandchildren to the beach.  She taught her granddaughters how to get picked up by a lifeguard at the beach – literally. 

 




She wasn’t known for her cooking, but she did make a killer pot roast.  Whenever we planned to visit her, she would ask us what we wanted for dinner (even though she already knew the answer). We usually could smell it walking in her door.  

There was a lot I did not know about my grandmother’s life until the genealogy bug bit me.  We had similarities in our own personal life experiences that I did not realize until years after my father passed.  

Her father died February 26, 1939, later that same year on October 6^th she married my grandfather, Hugh D. Turner. Her brother gave her away.  

 

 

Sixty-one years later, my father passed on February 29, 2000, later that same year on October 8^th  I was married.  My brothers gave me away.  History has a way of repeating itself even when we don’t know it’s happening.

I sit here today and watch my two children play in the back yard, something I know she did. Today is a little different for me, because today I’m wearing White Shoulders and thinking I wish I knew what the secret to her pot roast was.

Happy Birthday Grandma Turner!

Happy Birthday and Thank You Aunt Helen

111 years ago today on April 5, 1893, Helen Montague Turner eldest daughter of Hugh D & Willetta Turner was born in Roanoke City, Virginia.

1893 Warrenton, Virginia

 

  

 

 

She was an avid genealogist before all this modern day technology.  Her collection of letters is unbelievable dating from the 1930's up to her death in 1965.  She transcribed court records as there were no means of making copies.  Some of her collection is available via the Library of Virginia's online catalog.  Search Helen Turner and scroll down to see the online material (survey reports of the documents in the home of Helen Turner). 

I never had the chance to meet Aunt Helen, but am honored to share her passion for genealogy. Thanks Aunt Helen for paving the way and Happy Birthday too!