Walter Sam Turk, 95, of Emlenton, a retired magisterial district judge and Emlenton Borough Councilman, passed away peacefully in the company of his loving wife and family, on Friday afternoon, June 14, 2024, at UPMC Mercy in Pittsburgh.
Walter Sam was born in Parker on October 12, 1928. He was the son of the late Walter Riddle and Katharyn Church Turk.
He was a 1946 graduate of Parker High School. Sam was the last surviving member of his graduating class. He was a U.S. Air Force veteran, having served as an air traffic controller during the Korean War. In his earlier years, he had been employed at Glass Containers Inc. in Parker, and would later serve two terms as the Magisterial District Judge 28-3-04 in Emlenton, serving from 1981 to 1994. Judge Turk was highly respected among his peers and constituents. Following his retirement, he served the area as a Senior Judge, presiding in various area courts during a time of vacancy.
Sam was a long-time active member of the Emlenton Presbyterian Church. He served the church as a trustee and deacon and served for many years as an Emlenton Borough Councilman. Sam also served on the Board of Directors of the Emlenton Cemetery Co. and the Emlenton Area Ambulance Service. Sam was also a volunteer driver for the ambulance service. He enjoyed raising St. Bernards and beekeeping.
He is survived by his wife, Donna F. Fair Turk, whom he married in St. Petersburg on June 4, 1966. Also surviving are two daughters, Anita F. Orton and her husband, Tim, of Emlenton and Amy K. Book and her husband, Jim, of Cumberland, MD; four grandchildren, Levi S. Orton (Malliah Schreck) of Emlenton, Lexi H. Doody and her husband, Ian, of Damascus, MD, Bekah Weimer and her husband, Dilan, of La Vale, MD, and Emily F. Book (Aaron Monnett) of Cumberland, MD; as well as several nieces and nephews.
In addition to his parents, Sam was preceded in death by a brother, Robert Turk, as well as his father-in-law and mother-in-law, Russell and Nellie Fair.
Friends will be received at the Hile Funeral Home Inc., 1204 Kerr Ave., Emlenton, from 1-3 p.m. Friday, June 21, 2024. A funeral service will follow from the funeral home at 3 p.m. with the Rev. Darrell Knopp, former pastor of the Emlenton Presbyterian Church, officiating. The interment will be in the Emlenton Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Emlenton Area Ambulance Service, PO Box 346, Emlenton, PA 16373. Military honors will be accorded at the funeral home by members of the V.E.T.S. Honor Guard of Franklin.
Condolences may be sent by visiting www.hilefh.com.