GLENN O. TURNER, M.D.

Glenn O. Turner, M.D. died on August 20, 2016 in his home in Springfield, MO. Dr. Turner was born in Rural Ozark, Missouri on March 24, 1919, to Flossie Mae (Glenn) and Benton Oliver Turner. He grew up on the family farm near Riverdale in Christian County. At age four, he began his education at Eastern Star, a one room school house, and then attended Nixa High School graduating as Valedictorian in 1934 at the age of 15. In 1938 he received his B.A. Degree from Southwest Missouri State College (now MSU), double majoring in Secondary Education (Chemistry and Biology) and Pre-Med. Continuing on to medical school, he entered the University of Missouri Medical School for their two-year program, completing the final two years of his studies at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis in 1942. Following his internship at Washington University's Barnes Hospital, he enlisted in the Army Medical Corps in 1943. During WWII, 1943-1946, he served in the South and West Pacific, as General Duty Medical Officer, with a promotion to Cardiologist in 1945 while on the Island of Saipan, finally attaining the rank of Captain. Following the war, he served as Chief of Medicine at Tripler General Hospital in Oahu, Territory of Hawaii, February-June, 1946. He then returned to St. Louis and completed his residency at Barnes Hospital before returning to Springfield in 1947 to join his uncle, Elmer Glenn, M.D., in his medical practice, later to be known as the Springfield Clinic of Internal Medicine and in his final years of practice as the Heart Clinic of the Ozarks. St. John's Hospital School of Nursing engaged him to instruct nurses, establishing the program known as the Cardiovascular Nurse Specialist Program. He continued in this capacity for 16 years while also maintaining a vigorous medical practice. In the 1960's, he was instrumental in the design and installation of the "Springfield Wall" at St. John's Hospital, in the then new Cardiovascular Care Unit-whereby patients stress level was reduced due to all instruments being kept out of eyesight, inside compartments in the Wall. Dedicated to educating the public about how to recognize the warning signs of heart attack and stroke and to seek medical attention as soon as possible, Dr. Turner wrote "The Early Warning Signs of Heart Attack Public Education Program" which became a nationally recognized program. An active member of several professional organizations, Dr. Turner served as board member and in many cases president of the following: Greene County Medical Society, the Missouri State Medical Association, St. John's Regional Health Center Advisory Board, Missouri Heart Association, University of Missouri-Columbia Medical Alumni Association, Washington University Medical Alumni Association, Tuberculosis Society, Ozarks Regional Heart Association, and many others. He will always be remembered as "The Heart Doctor."

During his lifetime, Dr. Turner received many honors: Outstanding Alumnus Award, SMSU, 1972; Gerard B. Lambert Award in recognition for Missouri Heart Association Early Warning Signs of Heart Attack Public and Professional Education Project, 1973; Bicentennial Award of Excellence in Medicine, Drury University, 1979; Outstanding Alumnus Award, Nixa, Missouri High School, 1982; Physician recipient, 1989 Salute to Health Care Award, Springfield, MO Area Chamber of Commerce; inclusion as one of the "100 Ozarkers Who Shaped the Future" in the 20th century, Springfield News-Leader, October 10, 1999.

In 1951 he met and married the love of his life, Frances Lee Scarborough. They celebrated 62 years of marriage together before her passing October 30, 2013. He was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, brother, son, and uncle. Glenn was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, his sons Scott, Daniel and infant boy, and his older brother and his wife, John and Ella Turner. He is survived by his daughters, Carol Chappell and husband Scott of Springfield and Linda Turner of Dallas, Texas, and son, Steven Turner, MD and wife Cindy of Evansville, Indiana, granddaughters, Lee Chappell and Amelia Turner, brother and sister-in-law, Jack and Sammie Turner of Mount Vernon and sister and brother-in-law, Mary Alice and Dave Olinger of Memphis, Tennessee, as well as many nieces and nephews.

The family would like to thank the staff and residents at the Waterford for embracing Dad during his last few years. Special thanks to our Phoenix Home Health Care and Hospice family for giving such wonderful care and respect to our father.

Visitation will be held at Gorman-Scharpf Funeral Home at 2:30 pm on Tuesday, August 23, 2016 with a memorial service following at 3:00 pm, with Dr. Andrew Chaney officiating.  Private interment will be held at a later date in White Chapel Memorial Gardens.

Memorial contributions may be made to the music program at First and Calvary Presbyterian Church or a charity of your choice.