Los Angeles County
Biographies
FRED
A. TURNER
For
many years one of Alhambra’s leading businessmen and a civic leader of top
rank, Fred A. Turner has seen the city grow and prosper since he first began to
serve Alhambrans as a funeral director in 1913. Associated with Pierce Brothers, the largest
firm of funeral directors in the West, Mr. Turner is vice president of both
Pierce Brothers Fred A. Turner Mortuary at 225 North Garfield Avenue in
Alhambra and Pierce Brothers Fred A. Turner Mortuary at 1000 Fremont in South
Pasadena. On his acceptance of the
position with Pierce Brothers in 1957, the veteran mortician said, “I have long
felt that retirement was for those who could no longer serve their fellow men.”
Mr.
Turner has compiled an enviable record of community service over the
years. B’nai B’rith named him Alhambra’s
“Man of the Year” in 1958; in 1961 he was named “Mr. Alhambra,” an honorary
title left vacant since the death of Judge William A. Northrup, and was
presented with an official proclamation by the Mayor of Alhambra on behalf of
the High Twelve Club with the endorsement of service clubs and other
organizations of the city.
Fred
A. Turner was born on a farm in Marshall County, Iowa, as a boy was brought to
Pasadena by his parents, William H. and Cordelia A. Turner.
Fred
Turner entered the funeral directing business with his brother, L. H. Turner,
and later with his father. On coming to
Alhambra Fred Turner was founder and for many years executive head of the funeral
directing firm of Turner, Stevens, and Turner.
Mr.
Turner has engaged in a wide range of community activities, including
membership on the advisory board of the Alhambra branch of Bank of America,
director of the People’s Thrift Company, past director and vice president of
Mutual Savings and Loan Association, and past four-time president of the Young
Men’s Christian Association from which he received an award in 1959. He has been an active member of the First
Presbyterian Church for a number of years.
He has always been connected with the Chamber of Commerce, in which he
is a past director, and is presently director and treasurer of the Alhambra
Community Hospital and a director of the San Gabriel Philharmonic Artists’
Association. Mr. Turner is a charter
member of Kiwanis, has been a Mason most of his adult life, is affiliated with
Alhambra Lodge Number 322, and belongs to the Chapter, Council, Commandery,
Consistory, and Shrine. He is also a
member of the Alhambra High Twelve Club.
Other affiliations include Elks, Odd Fellows, and Knights of Pythias. He holds member number one in the San Gabriel
Country Club. Professionally Mr. Turner
is a member and past president of the Southern California Funeral Directors’
Association.
Mrs.
Turner, the former Miss Una G. Grettenberg,
is also a native of Iowa, from Mitchell County.
She has been active on the Alhambra Library Board for close to
twenty-five years.
Transcribed
by V. Gerald Iaquinta.
Source: Historical Volume &
Reference Works Including Alhambra, Monterey Park, Rosemead, San Gabriel &
Temple City, by Robert P. Studer, Pages 365-367,
Historical Publ., Los Angeles, California.
1962.
© 2012 V.
Gerald Iaquinta.
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BIOGRAPHIES