Beatrice (Bea) Witten Turner

Beatrice (Bea) Witten Turner completed her Earthly journey of life here on Thursday, July 31, 2025, at the age of 102, passing on peacefully to join her dear Lord as well as her loving husband Virgil Turner, who preceded her in death after over almost 70 years of marriage.

Bea was born in Wrightsboro, Texas, on February 6, 1923, to Harvey and Ethel Laird Witten, and was preceded in death by her two brothers, Kenneth and John (J.F.) Witten, and her one sister, Lottye Null.

Bea graduated from Smiley High School in 1940, and later that year married Virgil Turner, which proved to be a beautiful union of two souls that lasted until Virgil’s passing in 2010.

Virgil was a career serviceman, and the young couple spent their first five years living in Arizona and New Mexico. After the War, military reorganization brought them to the new Air Force and to bases in San Antonio, and Virgil and Bea chose to make Seguin their lifelong home for the next three quarters of a century. Virgil was deployed to Korea during the Korean War and then later to Japan, but Bea stayed in their Seguin home with their two young sons. Bea was very proud of Virgil’s military career and considered them to be partners in their service to our country. Virgil always managed to get reassigned to the San Antonio area upon return from overseas duty, so the family never left Seguin.

To supplement income while Virgil was deployed, Bea developed quite a reputation for her outstanding work as a seamstress, and custom-made clothes in her living room for local friends. Later, as her boys were older, she went to work for Seguin ISD, where she was employed for 24 years. Her first three years were spent as the first Jefferson Avenue Elementary School Secretary, after which she spent the next 21 years as the Secretary to the Superintendent of Schools. Among her various duties, she took the notes on the School Board meetings, and provided Board members with accurate and necessary data with which to perform their duties. She loved her time with Seguin ISD and working with the wonderful, and dedicated, staff and board members.

Bea was a warm, friendly and caring person who always had a smile and a good word for her many friends and acquaintances. She always tried to reflect the best of her Christian ideals. She was a longtime member of the First United Methodist Church, and worked for years in the Kindergarten Sunday School class. She remained active in her beloved Church in various capacities for many years. After retirement from SISD, she did volunteer work with the Library, the Christian Cupboard, Nesbit Nursing Home, and other various civic organizations. She also played a mean hand of dominos and “Texas 42” whenever she had the chance! She loved reading, working in the yard and keeping her home immaculate, sports and travel.

Bea is survived by her sons Tom of Apple Valley, MN, and Garry and Temple Turner of Boerne, TX; grandson Jason and wife Laurie; great-grandchildren Ay’lanna and Kaylee Turner, Jason, Russell, Alek and wife Ester Seams; five great-great grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.

The family wishes to thank the incredible staff at Seguin Assisted Living for the support, care, and attention they provided for our mother during her time there. We also wish to thank her niece Laura Witten Walker for her regular Wednesday visits to look in on her Aunt Bea. We know how much Bea enjoyed those visits.

A Memorial service to celebrate Bea’s life will be held on Friday, August 29, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. in the Knolle Chapel at the First Methodist Church in Seguin, with a simple reception at the church to follow.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association or to the First Methodist Church, 710 N. Austin St., Seguin, Texas 78155.