Paula Ernsberger Turner

Paula Turner was born in Minneapolis where she spent much of her childhood. She then moved with her family to New Jersey and spent many of her formative years in and around NYC. She received her undergraduate degree at Iowa State University and her Masters in Education at the University of Iowa. She was always a Cyclone or a Hawkeye except when they played each other in football. Then it was all ISU!

She then spent 3 years teaching English as a Fraternal Worker of the Presbyterian Church in Cairo, Egypt. Her fluency in Arabic and Spanish were always on display when she had the opportunity to use them. Her time in Egypt would prove to be a defining period of personal growth.

Paula then met Ewald Turner at a square dance at the University of Colorado in Boulder. They married in 1965 and had two children, Kurt and Kim in 1966 and 1967 respectively. Paula was also the grandmother to Allison Loparco and Kendyl Walker, Paula was a Title 1 instructor in Pendleton for 5 years before taking on teaching grades 3 and 4 in Washington and McKay Elementary schools. Paula also volunteered as a member of the American Association of University Women - Educational Equity Chair, as an elder and a deacon at the Pendleton Presbyterian Church, as co-chair of the American Cancer Society Fundraising Campaign, As a volunteer with the St Anthony Hospital's Auxiliary and as a member of the Delphians Club. She was also named Pendleton Presbyterian Woman of the Year in 2001.

A Celebration of Life and reception will be held Saturday, April 5, 2025 at 11:00 am at First Presbyterian Church of Pendleton.