Stephen "Skip" Turko, 89 of Orlando, Florida passed away peacefully on Wednesday, Nov. 16, 2016 in the company of his son, daughter, niece and daughter-in-law. Skip was born January 7, 1927 in Ford City, PA to Theodore and Helen Turko, both from Ukraine. As a 1st generation Ukrainian, he was the 9th child in a family of 6 brothers and 4 sisters. His father died when Skip was a very young boy during the depression, so his 5 oldest siblings had to quit school to raise money for the family.

He served in the Navy in WW II as a ship fitter on an LST and was in England when Germany surrendered in May of 1945. Having joined the Navy before he graduated from High School he returned home to Ford City to finish his senior year. He went to Jewelry school in Renovo, PA on the GI Bill after high school. He had a long career with Metropolitan Life (35+ years). He and his wife Margaret (Pidge) moved their family of 3 children to Florida in 1962. They had two more children while in Florida. He was preceded in death by his father, mother, 5 brothers and 3 sisters. His one remaining sister Jean, still lives in Ford City. He was also preceded in death by his loving wife of 51 years, in 2006, and his daughter Sonya Stokes and grandson John Wilcox IV (Jackie) in 2010. He is survived by son Marcus (wife Lynda), daughter Patricia (husband Jack), son David (wife Liz) and son Seth. He is also survived by 6 loving grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren. He will be dearly missed by all, but this loving father and grandfather will live within each of his family forever.