Robert Charles Turner

02/04/1925 – 06/12/2012

Robert C. Turner passed away on June 12, 2012. He was born in Eltham, a district of London, in 1925. During WWII, along with many other London school children, Bob was sent to live in Wales. While there, he developed a life-long passion for film and theater. He served in the Royal Air Force and later graduated from Peterhouse, University of Cambridge, with a degree in History and French.

For 10 years after the war, Bob worked in the advertising department of The London Star. While in London, he met his wife, Francoise, and after their daughter Nadine was born, the family traveled to the U.S. aboard the Queen Mary where he assumed the post of British Information Officer in New Orleans. They had fond memories of their introduction to the U.S. Their son, Joel was born in 1960 and soon thereafter, the family moved to Los Angeles where Bob was a teacher at both Harvard School and Marlborough School. Bob was also a prolific writer and artist and he wrote, painted or drew almost every day. He became a naturalized U.S. citizen in 1967.

In 1968 the family moved to Santa Barbara where Bob taught History and English at Laguna Blanca and at Dunn School.

In later years, Bob pursued his love of the theater, and over the course of 30 years, he acted in many local theater productions, including at the Circle Bar B, The Timbers, Seaside Theatre, Center Stage Theater and the Garvin Theatre at SBCC. Those were some of his happiest moments.

Bob loved the sea and took his daily walks along Shoreline Park, a familiar sight in his blue velvet blazer with dress shirt, tie and hat.

His family wishes to thank the fine care he received during the past year at “At Home in Santa Barbara,” and also from Dr. J. Brandt and from Visiting Nurse & Hospice Care.

In lieu of flowers, please remember Bob by supporting our outstanding local theatre community.