Donald Olen Turner

Donald “Coach” Turner, 89, passed away on March 12, 2025, in Citrus Heights, CA. He died unexpectedly but peacefully, while taking his morning nap.

A proud graduate of San Juan High school and Michigan State University, Don first began his teaching career at Pine Grove elementary school, where he had attended a short time as a youngster. He soon moved on to Folsom High School where he dedicated 35 years to teaching and coaching. He taught practical courses like Health and Safety, Family Life, and Driver’s Education, earning a reputation for fairness, consistency, and good-natured humor. Whether on the football field or basketball court or in the classroom or cafeteria, he left a lasting impact on the generations of young people he mentored.

Coach Turner was well known and loved throughout the community. He built deep and lasting friendships, making time to connect with those he cared about. At 39, he married the love of his life, Wanda, and embraced family life with her two daughters (Diana,10, and Victoria,13). Not surprisingly, his daughters both chose careers as educators, inspired by Don’s stories and example.

An avid sports fan, Don enjoyed watching basketball and football— unless the niners were making a mess of it. A lifelong dog lover, he usually had at least one “pup” running around the yard as he tended the citrus trees, watered, weeded, and built garden features. He and Wanda traveled to destinations across the country, including Alaska, Hawaii, the Oregon coast, Arkansas, and Missouri, where his parents grew up. Though usually quick to laugh and slow to anger, he could also be an outspoken advocate for fairness—whether protesting referee calls on the basketball court (earning his share of Technical fouls!) or standing up for teachers' rights as a union rep for collective bargaining. Integrity, service, and tenacity were his watchwords.

He was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 35 years, Wanda Louise (Womack, Archibald) Turner (d. 2020); his brother Douglas Clifton Turner (d. 2015); his mother Dessie Cordelia (Smith, Turner) Lindsey (d. 2000); his father Dewey Olen Turner (d. 1950); and many cherished friends. He is survived by his stepdaughters Victoria Velasquez and Diana Archibald; stepson-in-law Dane Netherton; and grandchildren Christian Velasquez, Isabella Velasquez, and Elsie Archibald Netherton.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, March 22, at noon at East Lawn Mortuary, 5757 Greenback Ln, Sacramento, CA. Guests are encouraged to dress comfortably and bring stories to share. In lieu of flowers, contributions of new basketballs for donation are welcome at the service. Tax-deductible donations may also be made to "Coach Turner's Play Ball Fund" to support sports equipment for at-risk youth: (https://glcf.fcsuite.com/erp/donate/create?funit_id=6514).