Incident
Guard William Turner was killed when he was struck by lightning while supervising a work crew at Oklahoma State Penitentiary's prison farm. He and the horse he was riding were both killed.
Guard Turner had served with the Oklahoma Department of Corrections for four years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and three children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
neuraspine_01krbxtnpz9wnwdk9tkd65n5mx- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew William. Claim this record.
This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.
Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Guard Turner gave the Oklahoma Department of Corrections 4 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of Oklahoma. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Guard Turner.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Accident
Oklahoma Department of Corrections has lost 19 officers; 2 of them lost to accidents.
William is one of 135 officers lost to accidents in OK, 23.2% of the 582 remembered there.
William is one of 8,276 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% of the 27,551 remembered there.
William is one of 10,096 officers lost to accidents worldwide, 29.6% of the 34,102 remembered here.
34,102 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1935, 2 officers in OK were lost to accidents, the 17th heaviest of 78 years on record. The heaviest was 1980, with 4.
In 1935, 99 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 8th heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.
In 1935, 107 officers worldwide were lost to accidents, the 9th heaviest of 200 years on record. The heaviest was 1930, with 131.
Who
William was 44. Of the 118 lost to accidents in OK whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 48.8; the middle age was 38. William had served 4 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
William was 44. Of the 7,718 lost to accidents in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 46; the middle age was 36. William had served 4 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
William was 44. Of the 9,452 lost to accidents worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 45; the middle age was 36. William had served 4 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
July holds 11.1% of these deaths in OK; March holds the most, 12.6%. Thursdays: 21.5%.
July holds 9.3% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.4%. Thursdays: 14%.
July holds 8.9% of these deaths worldwide; August holds the most, 9.3%. Thursdays: 14.2%.
How
Accident deaths account for 10.5% of all 19 deaths at Oklahoma Department of Corrections, the 3rd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 23.2% of all 582 deaths in OK, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 30% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 29.6% of all 34,102 deaths worldwide, the 2nd most common cause.
His people
Oklahoma Department of Corrections has 19 officers remembered here, William among them.
-
Herman H. Drover
Jan 19, 1914
-
Fred C. Godfrey
Jan 19, 1914
-
D. C. Oates
Jan 19, 1914
-
William Robert Mayfield Jan 20, 1926
-
James Payton Jones Feb 17, 1935
-
William C. Turner Jul 18, 1935
-
Charles D. Powell May 13, 1936
-
Jess Dunn
Aug 10, 1941
-
W. H. Riley Dec 13, 1943
-
W. H. Aston Aug 4, 1948
-
Albert Jerald Cox
Mar 5, 1977
-
Raymond L. Chandler Dec 18, 1980
-
Rex Thompson
Sep 1, 1981
-
Eugene L. Young
Jul 28, 1989
-
Kenneth Denton
Aug 3, 1989
-
Joe Allen Gamble
Jun 6, 2000
-
Jeffery Matthew McCoy
May 18, 2012
-
Stephen Roshawn Jenkins, Sr.
Jan 7, 2017
-
Robert William Sumner
Jul 14, 2024
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 51-E
Others Who Wore This Badge
18 officers from Oklahoma Department of Corrections are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.









