Chief Francis Daniel Turbitt

Smithfield -- Turbitt, Chief Francis Daniel, 68, died Thursday at home. He was the beloved husband of Bernice (DeFreitas) Turbitt. They had been married for 45 years. Born in Providence, a son of the late Robert and Mary (Murray) Turbitt. He was a long time resident of the Fox Point neighborhood in Providence.Chief Turbitt had been a Battalion Chief for the Providence Fire Department. He was appointed to the department in 1961, promoted to Lieutenant on May 3, 1978, to Captain on March 8, 1987, and to Battalion Chief on October 7, 1990, as Director of Training. He retired in May of 1992 after 31 years of service.He was a member of the Providence Firefighters Union-Local 799, the Providence Permanent Firemen's Relief Association, and the retired Providence Police and Firefighters Association. He was a 1958 graduate of Hope High School, where he earned All State honors in basketball. He was an Army Veteran and an Alumni of Providence College, and also a Fox Point Boys and Girls Club Alumni Association Hall of Fame member. He had been a Eucharistic Minister at St. Pius V Church in Providence and a member of St. Michael's Church in Smithfield.Besides his wife, he is survived by his son Kevin and wife Tomoko Shibusawa, daughter Robin and husband Terry Moore, son Sean, daughter Erin, daughter Kristen and husband John Thurston, and five grandchildren, Lauren, Hannah, Molly, Sidney, and Kiyoshi. He was the brother of Virginia Morgan of Smithfield, Arlene Lee of Florida, Carol Crain of Narragansett, Rev. Mr. Robert Turbitt of Coventry, and Donald Turbitt (Ret. Prov. FD) of Glocester.His funeral service will be Monday at 8:45am from the Russell J. Boyle & Son Funeral Home, 331 Smith Street Providence. Mass of Christian Burial at 10am in St. Pius V Church, Eaton Street, Providence. Burial will be in St. Joseph Cemetery. Visitation Sunday 2-6pm. In lieu of flowers, donations to Home and Hospice Care of Rhode Island, 169 George Street, Pawtucket, RI 02860, in his memory, will be appreciated.