Ronald William Turley

Ronald William Turley, 81, of Frederick, Maryland, passed from this life on Wednesday, December 25, 2024, at Frederick Health Hospital in Frederick, MD. He was the beloved husband of his surviving spouse, Frances Turley, for 59 years. 

Ron was born to the late Florence (Harman) Folk on June 16, 1943, in West Virginia. He was a graduate of Frederick High School. He proudly served his country in the U.S. Navy as a Petty Officer from November 1960 to April 1965, as an air traffic controller. Ronald was a was a member of the American Legion, Post #11, serving in various positions, including the Commander, from 2002-2003. He was also a member of the VFW Post # 3285 and was the President for 10 years. Ron worked as an air traffic controller in Leesburg Virginia for 30 years and after retiring was an independent insurance agent for about 25 years.

Ron enjoyed spending time with friends, playing golf, surf fishing, and working in his beautiful yard. Mostly he enjoyed spending time with his loving wife Fran. Ron was also known for writing I Love Fran stories and here are excerpts from a few of our favorites:

“Fran and I grew up during a time quite different from say the mid-1960s to today. There were no college protests, burn the bras, rock concerts, body piercing, drugs, lots of crime and I could go on, but they were great years. The guys would go to a major league ball game for 50 cents and find a pickup ball game every day or go fishing, hunting, swimming or bike riding. Never knew what the girls did. After the early teen years, we got into cars and some of us, very fast cars… the cruising era. The 50s and 60s music is still the best. We then found that fast cars were missing something, a girl in the right seat. My car had a sign on the dash which said, sit down, shut up, buckle up and hold on. I figured if they could handle that we would get along fine. I had some good times.

After my military obligation I met Fran and grew more mature and more serious. I often laughed at the stories Fran would tell me from her job at ATT. She once told me her boss cracked up one day and she didn’t understand what was so funny. It was because a coworker had called in sick and told Fran it was morning sickness. Fran asked me why she would be out all day if she was only sick in the morning. Fran’s innocence touched everyone and always had us laughing and our on our toes.”

“Today is the day of the annual dye half a bushel of easter eggs day. For some reason, this must be done on the work bench beside my blue Corvette. Every year, I worry that my car is going to look like an easter egg. And every time I went into the garage, I was told I made her break another egg. You must understand I have to eat all those mistakes. Every year at this time, I look and feel like Paul Newman’s stomach in the movie…For those that don’t know every year Fran drives around and gives an egg to her friends and every year she runs out, so if you get one it’s because you are special”

“I must admit I am getting a little apprehensive about our trip to Europe. If you ever saw the I Love Lucy show, you would understand. I mean things just happen to her that just don’t happen…Fran does not drink, smoke or curse but she is ever accident prone…I worry about her tripping over a rowboat in Italy, or starting a landslide in the alps…but I can tell you this, with I Love Fran, it will end up as a great time.” 

The family will receive friends from 12-1 pm on Tuesday, December 31, 2024, at Stauffer Funeral Homes, P.A. (Fred), 1621 Opossumtown Pike in Frederick, MD, where a celebration of Ronald's life journey will take place at 1 pm. Rev. Tim May will officiate. Interment will be at Mt. Olivet Cemetery in Frederick, MD.

On Saturday, January 4, 2025, the VFW Post 3285, Frederick MD, will be having a Celebration of Life for Ron Turley at 2:00 pm.

Memorial donations may be made in Ron’s name to the organization of your choice. Expressions of sympathy may be offered to the family at StaufferFuneralHome.com.