Obituary of Kent Turner

Kent Turner, age 92, of Binghamton died February 4,2024. He was born on April 14, 1931, in Norwich, NY where he was raised by his father John B. and mother Katharine. As a young man, he was a proud Eagle Scout. He graduated from Yale University in 1954 and married Barbara Wright of Williamstown, MA on June 8,1954. He served in the U.S. Navy from 1954-1957 as the Gunnery Officer on N.K. Perry DDR883 in the Atlantic fleet. In 1957 he joined the family business, Bennett-Ireland Inc., a pioneer in the manufacture of and sale of fireplace enclosures, both glass and wire mesh. In 1970 he joined First City Bank in Binghamton as a Trust Officer. He worked with numerous charities on finance and fundraising. He particularly enjoyed soliciting for the Binghamton University Foundation and the United Way for 35 years. He was a founding trustee of the Community, ACHIEVE, and Robertson Foundations. He enjoyed trips to faraway places with strange sounding names: Tlaquepaque, Tuktoyaktuk, Whaupaunaucau. A favorite series of trips was driving across Canada from Labrador to Vancouver Island, then to the Canadian north at the Beaufort Sea on the Dempster Highway. He was predeceased by his wife Barbara, his son Stephen, his sister Barbara, and his brother John. He is survived by: his children, Kent Jr (Janice) of Spokane, WA, Katharine (Adam) Berger of Concord, MA, Jean Shea of Binghamton; his grandchildren, Lewis (Rachel) Turner, Ryan (Beth) Turner, Amy (Ryan) Turner, Brian (Jen) Turner, Sara (Justin) Johnson, Elizabeth Berger, Louisa Berger, and Clara Berger, Stephen Shea and Jack Shea, and nine great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his sister Mary T. Cattan of Stamford, CT, cousin James (Wendy) Kent of Rochester, NY, and numerous wonderful nieces and nephews. Kent was a long-time member of Trinity Memorial Episcopal Church. A memorial service will be held at a later date. Memorial gifts can be made to a charity of your choice.