Turnham, Keith Maine

March 20, 1924 to Feb. 14, 2010 Keith was born in 
Burbank, CA and served in the Air Force during World War 
II as a flight engineer on a B-24 Liberator bomber. A mid-
air collision forced him to parachute out over Germany 
where he was captured and imprisoned for a year before 
being released after a 90-day march eastward to the British 
lines. Keith authored an interesting, humorous, and at 
times dramatic book called Death Denied where he 
recounted his war-time experiences. On his way home 
from the war he met his wife Genevieve "Genny" and 
resumed his career with a division of AT&T where he held 
several management positions. He was in charge of special 
projects for five counties of S. California when he retired. 
Keith became very involved in community affairs 
including serving as a Commissioner for the Human 
Relations Commission of San Diego. The Keith M. 
Turnham Humanitarian Award, is presented annually in his 
honor. Keith was a man of profound optimism, possessing 
a keen mind, faith in God, and a great sense of humor. He 
passed away peacefully on his 64th wedding anniversary 
to the great loss of all who knew him, and is survived by 
his wife Genny and sister Doreen. Keith will be interred at 
9:30 a.m. on Saturday, February 27th, at El Camino 
Mortuary, 5600 Carroll Canyon Rd., and a memorial service 
will be held at College Avenue Baptist Church at 2:00 p.m. 
on the same day.

Published in San Diego Union-Tribune on February 21, 
2010