Obituary of Vera W. Turner

Vera Frazier Wanger Turner, 92, of Audubon, PA, passed away on March 4, 2020, at her home, with loved ones by her side. 

Born January 22, 1928 in Philadelphia, she was the daughter of Willard and Hulda Wanger.

Vera grew up in Bala Cynwyd and was a 1945 graduate of Lower Merion High School. In 1949 she received a BA in History from Ursinus College, where she also met her husband, the late William E. Turner, Jr. Married in 1950, Bill and Vera raised their three children in Lafayette Hill, PA. 

Vera touched the lives of hundreds of students in her career as a substitute teacher in the Colonial School District. She was an avid athletic supporter of her husband, children and grandchildren in all of their competitive high school and college events, often traveling great distances to cheer them on. Her hobbies included sailing, tennis, golf, bocci, singing with church and community choirs, participating in local theater, and most of all playing duplicate bridge, at both Shannondell at Valley Forge, PA, and the Ocean City, NJ, Yacht Club. For over 65 years, Vera was a member of the Chestnut Hill Presbyterian Church. She also attended the Ocean City Tabernacle. 

Aside from her family, Vera’s greatest love was for Ocean City, NJ.  As a youngster, she helped her parents run their guest houses at 9th and Central Avenues. Summer jobs included waitressing at Chris’ Restaurant, the Varsity Inn, and Watson’s. As a young wife and mother, Vera owned and operated her own guest house, The Fairway Inn, on 9th and Central Avenues. Later she and Bill moved to a cottage near North and West Avenues. 

Vera is survived by her daughters Lynn Fox (William) of Lansdale, PA, and Judith Baxter (Malcolm) of Eden Prairie, MN, a son, Jeffrey Turner of Blue Bell, PA, a brother, W. Hunter Wanger (Judith Henry) of Southampton, PA, eight grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by a grandson, Andrew Frazier Fox, in 1985, and a sister, Lynn Wanger Reilly, in 2016.

A memorial service will be held at a date to be announced. In lieu of flowers, contributions in Vera’s name can be made to Ursinus College, Collegeville, PA