Obituary

Ula Mae Turner

December 3, 1923–August 31, 2022

Ula Mae Turner passed August 31, 2022, at Walla Walla Veterans home.

Ula Mae Turner was born in Dayton, Wash., to Jim and Nina Baldridge Hillhouse on December 3, 1923. She attended school in Dayton graduating from Pietryzski High School in 1942. She then moved to Seattle to work for Boeing during World War II. Ula was one of the original “Rosie the Riveters,” building aircraft during the war.

In 1944 she moved to Lubbock, Tex., where she married her high school sweetheart Donald “Gene” Turner, who was stationed at Reese Air Force Base. They lived in Texas and Tennessee until they moved back to Dayton in 1945.

They built their first home together which was one of seven that she worked alongside Gene in constructing. They welcomed their first daughter Gene Merlene Turner March 10, 1946, and their second daughter Gale Ardene Turner June 14, 1955.

Ula enjoyed growing gardens, canning and preserving, knitting, crocheting, crafts and was an excellent seamstress. She loved to make clothing, sweaters and crochet blankets for her family. She also loved having her family over for home cooked meals, baking and going for car rides. Ula was a very special lady and holds a place in many hearts.

She was preceded in death by her husband Gene, her parents and five siblings; Harold Slack (Alice), Herschel Slack (Cecil), Dorothy James (Jack), Tudy Nicholson (Bill), Leora Bardell Fletcher (Gary).

Ula is survived by her daughters Merlene Wolf (Jon) and Gale Turner and her grandchildren, Lori McMunn Zimmerman (Robert), Chelsea Opp (Sheryl) and Bethany Opp Wiley (Jason) and by her great-grandchildren, Christopher Waliser, Haley Sullivan Valdovino (Parker), Turner Sullivan, Alivia Wiley and Louella Wiley.

A private graveside service was held September 7, 2022 at Dayton Cemetery. Corbeill Funeral Home in Dayton was in charge of the arrangements.