Ralph T. Turnbull

Ralph Turnbull transitioned to his home in heaven on Saturday, June 1, 2024.  Born on November 9, 1928 in Granite City, Illinois, Ralph was 95 at the time of his passing.  He is survived by Betty, his wife of 73 years, and his children Peggy (Randall) Kressin of Germantown, Wisconsin and Tom Turnbull (Darrell Smith) of Eunice, Louisiana.  He has 2 grandchildren, Bret (Elizabeth) Kressin of Ashburn, Virginia and Kay (Cole) Truesdell of Sherburn, Minnesota, and 5 great grandchildren: Jackson, Ryleigh and Reagan Kressin and Ailey and Arlo Truesdell.  He is also survived by his brother Gary (Karin) Turnbull.  He is preceded in death by his parents Andy and Mabel Turnbull and his sister Betty (Don) Edwards.  There are various cousins, nieces and nephews that also survive him.  

His childhood was spent between his beloved family farm in Potosi, Missouri and his birth city. He served in the Army from 1946-1948 (WWII) and again from 1950-1951 (Korea).  He met Betty at Southern Illinois University in 1948 and they were married in 1950.  He graduated from the University of Illinois-Champaign with a Bachelor in Dairy Technology.  During the next several years, his job took him and his family to Park Forest, Illinois, Billings, Montana, Bloomington, Minnesota, and Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The family settled in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin in 1961 and lived there until 1980.  In 1980, Ralph joined a manufacturer’s representation partnership, MC2, in Broadview Heights, Ohio, where he worked until his retirement in 1998.  In retirement he was active in Habitat for Humanity for many years, as well as an instructor for the AARP Driver Safety Course.

Throughout his life, Ralph was very active in local Southern Baptist churches in every community in which he lived, with his last membership at Park Heights Baptist Church in Middleburg Heights, Ohio.  He was a deacon, served as treasurer, moderator, chair of numerous committees and taught many Sunday School and other training classes.  He was also active in the State Convention of Baptists in Ohio (SCBO), including serving as a trustee of the Ohio Baptist Foundation.  His faith was the rock on which his life was built.

Many lives have been blessed by knowing Ralph.  Those who knew Ralph will recall that he never met a stranger. He could talk with anyone about anything.  He was known for his warmth, integrity, sense of humor and calm demeanor.  He will be missed by all who knew him.

Visitation will be from 10 am to 12pm on June 5, 2024 at A. Ripepi & Sons, 18149 Bagley Road, Middleburg Heights, Ohio (West of I-71).  Funeral Service will be June 5, 2024, 12pm at A. Ripepi & Sons Funeral Home.  Inurnment at a later date at Wisconsin Memorial Park, Brookfield, Wisconsin. 

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Ralph’s memory to Park Heights Baptist Church, 16189 Sheldon Road, Middleburg Heights, Ohio 44130. SERVICES ENTRUSTED TO A. RIPEPI & SONS FUNERAL HOME, MIDDLEBURG HEIGHTS (WEST OF I-71)