Charles Turnbo passed away January 20, 2009 at the age of 67 following a battle with cancer. He died at home, with family by his side.

Turnbo was born in Wichita Falls, TX on January 2, 1942, to Leland and Electra (Peggy) Turnbo. He attended Wichita Falls Senior High School and the University of North Texas (UNT), where he was a member of Kappa Sigma fraternity. He obtained a B.A. in Psychology from UNT, and later earned a Master’s Degree in social work from Louisiana State University. He also served in the United States Air Force Reserves for four years.
Turnbo began his career with the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) in 1970. He was a Warden in the Western and South Central regions, and spent the last seven years of his career as a Regional Director for the BOP in Philadelphia and Dallas before retiring in 1996.
One of the greatest passions in Charlie’s life was history and genealogy. He was the author and publisher of ‘The Texas Turnbo’s’ (1976) and co-authored ‘Huffman Heritage’ (1985). In 2002, Charlie edited and published ‘Home Was Never Like This,’ the war diaries of his uncle, who was a POW in Oflag 64 during WWII.
Perhaps the work Charlie loved researching and writing the most, however, was his most recent 2007 publication, ‘Salado, Texas – Frontier College Town’.
For the last 17 years, Charlie was involved in dispute resolution and mediation, and marriage enrichment, divorce recovery, and Celebrate Recovery ministries. In addition, he published ‘My Prayer and Devotional Journal’ in 2001.
He is survived by his loving wife, Beverly, with whom he shared 196 joyful months of marriage (16 plus years); sons Scott (Bo) Turnbo and Jeff Turnbo and wife Shannon of Wichita Falls, TX; daughter Cindy Hathaway and husband Jay of Edmond, OK; and daughter Meg Rainwater of Austin, TX. He was “Peeps” (and “Indiana Jones”) to five precious grandchildren: Rayna, Jesse, and Adam Turnbo, and Sydney and Leah Hathaway.
He was preceded in death by his father, Leland Turnbo. The primary source of Charlie’s character and Christian walk came from his mother, Electra (Peggy) Turnbo, who survives him. He is also survived by his sister, Patricia Rhodes and brother-in-law, Dusty of Carrollton, TX; brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Scot and Paula Baker of Glendora, California; aunt and uncle, Nita and Johnny Gauntt of San Antonio, TX; incredible nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Charlie’s memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Feb. 6, 2009 at Temple Bible Church in Temple, TX (directions, below). Private graveside services will precede the memorial service.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Discipleship Unlimited prison ministries (P.O. Box 145, Gatesville, TX 76528); 3C Cowboy Fellowship (P.O. Box 1282, Salado, TX 76571); Temple Bible Church (3205 Oakview Drive, Temple, TX 76502); First Baptist Church (210 South Main, Salado, TX 76571); or www.caringbridge.org.