Marion was born in New Augusta, Indiana, Marion County April 24, 1916, the youngest of five children born to Samuel G. and Mary C. Johnson Turner. Marion's siblings were Nie, Mable, Albert and Elizabeth.

Marion's family moved to the west side of Indianapolis when his father gave up farming to work at Malable Steel in Haughville. Marion attended P.S. 67 then went on to graduate from George Washington High School in 1934. Marion was very active in the Boy Scouts and went on to become an Eagle Scout.

He married Sarah C. Craig in November 1936 with whom he had three children, Beverly, Bonnie and Byron. He and Sarah "Sally" were the Grandparents of twelve grandchildren, one of which is laid to rest beside him, Barbara Jean Fowley. He was also preceded in death by one great-grandson, Patrick Runyon.

Before Marion's death in 1984, he and Sally lived in Phoenix, Arizona for six years where he took up many hobbies, including woodworking, clock making, painting and writing poetry.

His beloved Sally joined him in death on December 7, 2001.