Robert Harry Turnbull

Bob was a beloved husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, friend, mentor, shepherd, and coach. His life blessed and influenced everyone around him with his giving spirit and love for people, not to mention his sense of humor. Bob had the gift of encouragement that lifted anyone with whom he came in contact. He truly never met a stranger.

Bob was born in Watertown, New York, on October 14, 1946, to Andrew John and Stella Irena Merritt Turnbull. He spent his childhood years in the small town of Beaver Falls, New York, where he was fascinated by the 17 different nationalities who inhabited the town. That became an important influence in his love for the world. Bob developed a solid work ethic from a very young age, always holding down jobs from lawn mowing to house painting to working at the local paper mill. He loved the outdoors and snow skied competitively.

In high school, Bob moved to Deerfield Academy in Massachusetts for his final two years. From there, he moved south to Emory University in Atlanta, where during his junior year, Bob met the love of his life, Mary Anne Sharp. The following summer, he enlisted in the US Marine Corps to avoid being drafted. It was then that Bob served the country he loved on active duty in Vietnam from December 1967 to February 1969. When he returned to Emory, Bob married Mary Anne in August, and they graduated together in 1970. He was a member of Phi Delta Theta fraternity.

After college, Bob was hired by Aetna Life Insurance Company in their group department. They moved to Hartford, Connecticut, for training; and then were assigned to the Baltimore office. Four years later, Bob was transferred to Birmingham, Alabama, where they spent the rest of his life. He left Aetna and started The Turnbull Agency, then branched out into pharmacy benefits, building a strong business (Benefits Plus) for many years. Bob also served as President of the Birmingham Health Underwriters.

During his children’s school years, Bob served as a coach for youth soccer and basketball teams, helping lead the Briarwood Christian School youth soccer program. He was the Head of the State of Alabama Girls Olympic Development Program in its infancy. Coach Turnbull was loved by many young athletes and students.

Bob was a charter member of Covenant Presbyterian Church, where he served as an Elder and on the World Missions Committee. In 1992, he moved to Briarwood Presbyterian Church where he continued to serve as a ruling elder, shepherd, Bible study leader, and as chairman of the Global Missions Team for several years. Bob's early exposure to various nationalities had given him a love of all people, and he developed relationships with missionaries all over the world. It also gave him a love of travel with his wife.

But of all his interests, Bob's family was at the top of the list. He loved spending time with them, especially at his beloved cabin on Long Pond in the Adirondack Park near his childhood home. Summers found Bob and his wife spending a month there, with the kids joining them for a week, and fall was a special time to return for another week.

Bob is survived by his wife of 57 years, Mary Anne Sharp Turnbull, his children; Murray Anne Turnbull Morgan (Trevor) and Andrew Thomas Turnbull (Shannon), his grandchildren; Preston Joseph Reeves (Maggie), Maxwell Thomas Morgan, Andrew Glenn Turnbull, Robert Thomas Turnbull, Milly Kathryn Morgan, and Anne Madelyn Morgan, and one great-grandchild, Hallie Blake Reeves. Each of them held very special places in his heart.

3 John 1:4 “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.”

Bob would want to be remembered for his love of God and his desire to see the nations of the world come to faith in Jesus Christ. But, he will also be remembered for the encouragement he gave to everyone around him, and for his sense of humor. Bob truly was an amazing man, who loved and served others with his time, treasure, and talents. To God be the Glory!

Interment will be Wednesday, October 14, 2026, at the Alabama National Cemetery in Montevallo at 11am followed by a Celebration of Life Service at 2 pm at Briarwood Presbyterian Church with visitation following.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Briarwood Presbyterian Church Global Missions at 2200 Briarwood Way, Birmingham, AL 35243.