William Charles Turk, formerly a resident of rural Kay County and Ponca City, Oklahoma, died at home in Katy, Texas on April 25, 2016. He was 64 at the time of his death.

Born on October 12, 1951 in Ponca City, Oklahoma, he was the oldest son of Carl William Turk and Marjorie Alice Farmer Turk. Bill, as he was known all his life, grew up on the family farm with his younger siblings, Carla and James, near Newkirk and attended Prairie Chapel school until reaching 8th grade. He attended Blackwell Junior High and High School, graduating in 1969. After high school, Bill attended Oklahoma State University, and graduated with a bachelor's degree in biologicalsciences in 1975. He attended Trinity Lutheran Church in Blackwell with his family during his years at home, and was confirmed in 1965. On July 1, 1978, Bill was married to Jean Priboth and they made their home in Ponca City. They were married for 11 years, parting ways on August 2, 1989. During these years Bill worked at several occupations, including bar owner, soil conservationist, and then for Conoco as a chemist. When the company sold part of its chemicals subsidiary in 1984, becoming Vista TITLE OF YOUR PAPER 2 Chemical, Bill moved with the new company to Austin, Texas. He worked and lived there until 1996, when he moved back to Ponca City to join Multiphase Solutions, Inc. Bill stayed with the company through many moves, finally landing in the Houston, Texas area. He worked with Multiphase (MSi) until his retirement in 2012. Bill spent some of his happier moments participating with a Usenet group who interacted over the Internet on its earlier days. They met in Las Vegas once or twice a year to enjoy each other's company in person, and to play poker together. Bill enjoyed traveling, and visited a variety of places, some for work, and others for pleasure. He made many friends around the world.

Bill is survived by his sister, Carla Joy Garner, and her husband Perry, of Ames, Iowa, alongwith her three children, Roz Scanes, Jaqui Giltner and her husband Andy and daughter Sydney, and Meredith Buseman, her husband Jason, and two children Lily and Lucas. Also surviving were his younger brother James Roberts Turk and his daughter Karsyn. Bill is also survived by his ex-wife Jean Norman and his two stepchildren Janell Buckner and Bill May.

Bill's family and friends will celebrate his life at a memorial service to be held on July 9, 2016, at 11am at Roberts and Son Funeral Home in Blackwell, Oklahoma.