August 4, 1944 – February 10, 2023
Charles Anthony Robert LaTurner, known as “Tony,” died unexpectedly in Provo, Utah, on Friday, February 10, 2023, at the age of 78. Tony, who filled many roles throughout his life including, among many others, business consultant, teacher, and local religious leader, will be mourned by members of each side of his large family and by his friends.
Tony is survived by his wife, Carolyn Gordon LaTurner, his first wife, Amanda LaTurner, and fourteen children between both sides of his family, along with dozens of grandchildren and great-grandchildren, his sister, Dede LaTurner Lum, his half brother, James Neville LaTurner, and several other members of his extended family. Tony’s brother, Nick LaTurner, has already passed on.
Tony was born on August 4th, 1944 in Southampton, England to Mary Maclachlan LaTurner and Robert R. K. LaTurner. Tony’s mother, Mary, had worked in the Admiralty during the early days of World War II. Robert, an American, was a pilot for the Royal Air Force in London where he met his future wife and Tony’s mother, Mary.
Following the war, the family relocated to Canada for 5 years, where Tony’s two full siblings, Dede and Nick, were born. In 1953 the family moved to the Big Island of Hawaii, for Robert’s work, where they lived for seven years in a big 4-bedroom house on a half acre lot near the ocean. It was an idyllic childhood for Tony and his siblings. They knew every single family on their street and would often ride bikes around the neighborhood in packs of 10 to 15 kids. The family later moved to Honolulu.
Tony attended Roosevelt High School and graduated in 1962. He then enrolled at Brigham Young University—Hawaii (then known as Church College of Hawaii) in Laie. Tony converted to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (LDS Church) and was sent on a two-year mission to England. His faith would become a central influence in his life thereafter. At Church College, he met Amanda, and the two were married in the Laie Temple and then moved to California. They had nine children.
The marriage ended after several years, and, after being single for a short time, Tony met the woman who would become his sweetheart for the remainder of his days, Carolyn, a young widow with five small children who had lost their father, Carolyn’s husband, to cancer. Tony and Carolyn were married in Lehi, Utah, and Tony took on the challenge of raising this new family, along with his own brood of nine. Tony used to say that he considered all of his children his “real” children, whether they were related to him by blood or not.
Tony went on to earn a Master of Business Administration and a Doctor of Business Administration at California Coast University. He then taught at Utah Valley University and at both campuses of Brigham Young University, and participated in several businesses, including Pacific Rim Business Review. He was also a published author. Over the course of several years, Tony also held many LDS Church positions including positions in a Stake Presidency and as a Bishop. In the latter part of his life, Tony served at the Missionary Training Center (MTC) and at the Provo Temple, rendering a service he considered of eternal importance.
Always active, Tony was a surfer, swimmer, golfer and martial artist during most of his life. It was only during the final years of his life that his health severely limited his abilities. However, he always maintained his cheerful attitude and joked around until the day he died, and somehow he still managed to take his beloved dog, Annie, on her daily walks! Tony will be dearly missed.
A visitation hour will be held on Saturday, February 18, 2023 from 9:00am to 10:00am, at River Bottom LDS Chapel at 3477 East River Bottom Road, Spanish Fork, Utah, 84660. The funeral service will begin at 10:30am that morning at the same location. The interment will take place afterward at Lehi City Cemetery.
Condolences can be offered at www.legacyfunerals.com.
