Ellen Jane Turk, age 85, passed away in her home on December 23, 2025, in Wake Forest, North Carolina. She was born on November 15, 1940, in St. Cloud, Minnesota, to Paul and Martha Schneeman, and grew up in Bismarck, North Dakota.

As a high school student at Bismarck High School, Ellen excelled in music, serving as concert mistress of the Symphony Orchestra and performing in the concert band. Music was one of her greatest loves. After graduation, she enrolled at the University of North Dakota but soon realized that college was not the right path for her at that time.

Although music remained an important part of her life, Ellen sought a career that offered greater personal fulfillment and found it in the defense industry. Her exceptional precision and unwavering commitment to customer satisfaction became hallmarks of her work. Though not formally trained as an engineer, Ellen played a vital role in the development of world-class technical systems and products. Throughout her career, she supported various design teams at companies including Eaton Corporation, General Dynamics, General Electric, and Verizon, contributing to projects for Department of Defense agencies. In her administrative roles, she developed a strong understanding of how complex automated systems were designed and operated and was relied upon to provide knowledgeable support for every system under development within her departments.

That same sense of responsibility and integrity shaped Ellen’s life beyond her career. She was especially proud of her service as a foster mother to more than 30 infants and children, a role that reflected her deep sense of responsibility and compassion. She continued to follow the lives of some of the children and families she helped, taking pride in their journeys.

Alongside her dedication to others, Ellen embraced life with enthusiasm and a strong appreciation for the things that mattered most to her. She loved NASCAR, college football, fast cars, and the RV lifestyle, finding joy in traveling, camping, and time spent on the road. Music also remained a lifelong passion, reflected in her appreciation for classical piano - a gift passed down from her mother. Above all, she spoke often and proudly of her two sons, closely following her older son’s adventures and celebrating her younger son’s love of motorsports.

Ellen valued lasting friendships and shared close bonds with Sissy, Linda, Joy, Joannie, Helen, and Peggy, who remained dear to her throughout her life. She also cherished the special moments she shared with her sisters-in-law, Lorna and Carmen.

She is survived by her husband, Felix Turk; her sons, Marc (Rose) Ritchie and Paul (Joy) Ritchie; her grandchild, Alex (Kate) Ritchie; and her two great-grandchildren, Leo and Parker. She was preceded in death by her parents, Paul and Martha Schneeman, and her brothers, Edward and Johnny.

Ellen will be remembered for her strength, her directness, her firm convictions, as well as her unmistakable fondness for the color pink, especially in her clothing

In lieu of flowers, please consider providing a financial donation to Formed Families Forward, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting foster, kinship, and adoptive families of children and youth with disabilities and other special needs in the Northern Virginia area.

Donations may be made at:

https://formedfamiliesforward.org/donate/.

Memorial Arrangements:

Memorial Service: Saturday, February 7, 2026 | Memorial service 2:00 pm

Place of Service: Holloway Memorial Funeral Home, 2502 NC Hwy 55, Durham, NC

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