Memorial Service Scheduled for Staffordshire Couple Deceased in Spanish Floods

The funeral service for a Staffordshire couple, who perished in flash floods in Spain, is scheduled to occur. Don Turner, aged 78, and his 74-year-old wife, Terri, were discovered deceased inside their vehicle following intense rainfall in Valencia during late October. Ruth O’Loughlin, the couple’s daughter, residing in Burntwood, conveyed to BBC Radio WM her inability to articulate her emotions. “Speaking to my sister every day, we feel like my parents are still alive in Valencia, because I think the truth is too shocking to believe,” she stated. “To lose two parents, in the way that we’ve lost them, is devastating.” The retired couple, originally from Burntwood, had relocated to Spain approximately a decade prior, where they volunteered at a dog rescue facility. Since their passing, Ms. O’Loughlin and her sister, Renee Turner, have collected over £4,600 for the charity in remembrance of their parents. According to Ms. O’Loughlin, her parents’ vehicle was discovered overturned in a ravine, filled with mud from the floodwaters. This event marks Spain’s most severe flooding catastrophe in generations, resulting in the deaths of more than 200 individuals. During a visit to Valencia, the sisters placed flowers inside the car, describing it as a means to feel connected to their parents. The Turners had been wed for 52 years, and Ms. O’Loughlin characterized them as being like “chalk and cheese.” “Mum was really sensible, serious. Dad was really silly and funny. But it just worked – they were the kindest, most thoughtful people you could ever wish to meet,” she said. Ms. O’Loughlin expressed her hope that the crematorium would be filled, given that her parents were cherished by numerous individuals. “I don’t want it to be a dark, sombre day. I want to celebrate the life of two absolutely amazing people,” she added.