Robert "Bob" Lee Turner

Robert Lee “Bob” Turner, 78, of Zionsville, a Vietnam veteran and the founder of RL Turner Corporation died on Friday August 3, 2018 of complications from Parkinson’s disease.

Bob was born in Muncie, IN on July 8, 1940 to Ronald and Virginia Jo Turner. He and his brother Ronnie grew up on a horse and cattle farm in Gaston, IN building wagons, raising livestock, and remodeling barns.

A strong math student in high school, he attended Purdue University under the R.O.T.C. program and received a B.S. in Civil Engineering in 1962. During his college days, Bob was active in the Acacia Fraternity, R.O.T.C, and fairly certain he hated nuclear physics.

Bob enlisted in the Navy in 1963. He served two tours in theater during the Vietnam War as a member of a Naval special operations and reconnaissance team, and was awarded several medals of merit. He was honorably discharged in 1969 as a Lieutenant Junior Grade. Bob went on to earn an MBA from the University of Missouri. He then worked as an engineer before founding the RL Turner Corporation in 1976, a general contracting and construction management firm headquartered in Zionsville.

Following military service Bob married Sondra Cooper and had four children: Lisa, Tim, Greg and Matt. His second marriage in 1980 to Cathy Madden Cuthbert brought two more daughters–Lee and Samantha—into the family.

Bob made enormous contributions to his profession, his country, his community and his alma-mater, Purdue University. He received commendations from the US Navy, the Marine Corps, and the governments of South Vietnam and Thailand. He served as National President of the Associated Builders and Contractors in 1989 and National President of the Construction Industry Workforce Foundation in 1990. He was also a lifetime member of the Purdue Alumni Association, the John Purdue Club and the Purdue President’s Council.

Bob was an avid bird dog hunter winning several national championships and earning a national title with his German Shorthaired Pointer, Maggie, in 2012. He also held a black belt in Tae Kwon Do and was an instrument-rated private pilot. Cathy and Bob raised their 6 children on a farm in Zionsville growing crops and raising horses, cows, chickens and many stray dogs over the years.

Bob was well known for his sense of humor and joke telling talents. He volunteered for years to help keep the brick street in Zionsville healthy. He is quoted saying “Life isn’t about collecting plaques and awards, but rather living life to fullest.”

In addition to his wife Cathy, sons Greg and Matt, and daughters Lisa Melton, Lee Cuthbert, and Samantha Tidmore, Bob also is also survived by his grandchildren: Sarah Gordon, and Alexis, Mackenzie, Maggie, Nathan and Gabe Turner. His son Tim and brother Ronald preceded him in death.

Visitation will be Tuesday, August 7 at Flanner and Buchanan Zionsville from 4 – 8 p.m. There will be a Masonic service at 7:30 p.m., followed by an American Legion service at 7:45 p.m. The funeral service will be held there Wednesday, August 8 at 10 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to The Caring Center, 1230 Ransdell Ct., Lebanon, IN 46052.