Sgt. Maj. Ernest J. Turner Rapelyea, a 1963 Westbury High School graduate and retired member of the U.S. Army, passed away at age 69 on Jan. 16, 2014 in Goose Creek, South Carolina.
Born in Washington, DC, he was the son of the late Charles and Deloise Rapelyea and husband to Linda Turner. After high school, he joined the United States Army and served for 30 years, retiring as a Sergeant Major. He served during Vietnam and was proud to be a paratrooper assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division. He worked as a truck driver and a contract monitor at the Charleston Air Force Base. He is survived by his wife, Linda Turner; two daughters, Yvonne Turner of Goose Creek and Nicole Turner of Charleston; granddaughter, Autumn Turner of Charleston; four brothers, Charles Rapelyea of Tampa, FL, Melvin Rapelyea of Betterton, MD, Brian Rapelyea of NY and Kevin Rapelyea of NY.
