Ira Vance Turner, 96, of Onalaska, Washington, passed away at home on Feb. 4, 2026. He was born in Shawnee, Oklahoma, on Sept. 7, 1929, to Mary Margaret Jane (McPherson) Turner and George Robert Turner, and was the fifth of five sons, George, Harold, Kenneth and Tom. Ira, called Vance by his family, graduated from Miami, Oklahoma, High School at age 16. He took classes at Northeast Oklahoma Agricultural and Mechanical, and considered becoming a pharmacist until butting up against a chemistry class.
Ira joined the Navy in 1950, where he became an Aerographer’s Mate, forecasting weather for the Navy on the USS Badoeng Strait and USS Lenawee. In the Navy, a friendship with Jim Hirtzel later brought him to Onalaska, Washington, where they were partners in dairy farming. Ira met Eleanor Mary (Guenther) Snyder, and they married on Christmas Eve, 1955.
Ira left the dairy farm and worked for over nine years for the Northern Pacific Railroad, before taking over the Onalaska service station (Flying A, Phillips 66, Mobil) and operating it for over 25 years. He also did wedding and graduation photography, as well as assisting Eleanor with deliveries for the florist/nursery business. After retiring from the station, Ira worked as a guard at Mayfield Dam.
Ira was preceded in death by his wife, Eleanor; his parents, George and Mary; and his brothers, George, Harold, Kenneth and Tom. He is survived by his son, Terry and wife Leslie Turner, Michael and wife Marla Turner; his daughter, Sandy Turner, and daughter Barbara and husband Wayne Farrington; and numerous granddaughters, grandsons, great-granddaughters and great-grandsons.
A celebration of life is planned for May 2, 2026, at the Onalaska Community Presbyterian Church, 288 Carlisle Ave., at 12 p.m. The family wishes to thank Providence at Home with Compassus hospice for their kindness and care during Ira’s last days.
