Turney John Hernandez, 94, passed away on January 1, 2018 at home in Newark, Delaware surrounded by his loving family. He was born and raised on a small family farm in the Acadian area of Lafayette, Louisiana in1923 to French speaking parents Saul Hernandez and Bertha Lagneaux Hernandez. He was one of seven children.
He graduated from Judice High School in Lafayette in 1939, and attended the University of Southern Louisiana before his studies were interrupted by World War II. He served in the 21st US Army Air Corps as an aerial gunner on a B-17 bomber which was shot down by an ME109 on his 18th mission. He then served as a control tower operator, and gunnery instructor for French pilots training in the US.
Following the war, he attended Louisiana State University where he received an M.S. in horticulture. After graduation, Mr. Hernandez served as Associate Professor of Horticulture at Louisiana Polytechnic Institute for several years. In 1952, Mr. Hernandez began work for the DuPont Company as a technical sales representative and product manager in the Agricultural Products department, with expertise in crop and non-crop vegetation management. This position included extensive travel throughout the Americas and non-developed countries for over 32 years.
Turney was active on the National Highway Research Board, Delaware Malpractice Review Board (1976-77), recognized for Distinguished Service by the Southern Weed Science Society (1981), executive director of the National Roadside Vegetation Management Association (1985-2004) and a member of many other academic and professional organizations. He enjoyed travel, and gardening and landscaping.
Turney is survived by his spouse of 27 years, Ann Marie Rossi of Newark, Delaware; his children, Terry Hernandez and Janet Maurer of Austin, TX, Randall Hernandez and Lana Hernandez of Newark, DE, and Lisa Subers of Kennett Square, PA; grandchildren Joshua Hernandez, Brandon Hernandez, Megan Hernandez, Sarah Jane Maurer, Turney Maurer, Laura Hernandez, Adam Hernandez, Stephen Rossi, Marisa Rossi, and three great grandchildren. Turney was preceded in death by his parents, his first wife Sadie Marie Tate, a daughter, Kaye Marie Hernandez, a granddaughter, Rachel Ann Maurer, brothers Travis, Theo, Teme, Thomas, and sisters Lily Peterson and Murley LeBlanc.
A visitation will be held at the Chandler Funeral Home, 2506 Concord Pike at 10:00 am, Friday January 12, 2018 followed by a Funeral Service at 11:30. Interment will be private. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Turney’s name to the organization he founded and loved. The National Roadside Vegetation Management Association (NRVMA.org), C/OF John Reynolds. 5616 Lynchburg Circle, Hueytown, AL 35023.
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