Lee F. Turnbull

Lee F. Turnbull, 85, of Merrimack, NH died Monday, March 22, 2021, at CMC in Manchester, NH after a period of declining health.

He was born in Waltham, MA on May 1, 1935, a son of the late Dean T. and Amelia C. (Watson) Turnbull. Some of Lee’s most cherished memories were of growing up singing and playing music with his brothers and sisters and spending summers working on his mother’s family farm in Nova Scotia. He spent many years researching and documenting the history and ancestry of both his father’s and mother’s Scottish roots.

Lee served in the U.S. Army from 1953-1956. He was stationed in Japan, Korea, and later Fort Benning, Georgia with the Military Police.

Before retirement, Lee was employed for many years at Hitchiner Mfg in Milford, NH as a mechanic and preventative maintenance coordinator. Throughout his professional life, he enjoyed a variety of roles in automotive, heavy equipment, and industrial mechanics, but he was equally skilled and appreciated for fixing household appliances for friends and family and repairing toys for his grandchildren.  

A gifted musician who taught himself to play many instruments, Lee enjoyed listening to music of all kinds, but he especially loved old gospel songs. Each Sunday morning, he spent time playing through some of his favorite hymns on the organ before attending church. Lee was a longtime and active member of the First Church in Merrimack, first as a member of the choir and later as a teacher, deacon, and elder. He enjoyed organizing the men’s retreats and in recent years served as an usher and elder emeritus.

In addition to his parents, he is also predeceased by his wife of 42 years, Josephine A. (Wieczhalek) Turnbull who died in 2007.

Members of his family include three sons, Wayne Turnbull and his wife Diane of Hooksett, Joseph Turnbull of Manchester, and Glenn Turnbull and his wife Michele of Brookline; a daughter Lisa Jennings and her husband Chris; grandchildren Allison Kellett, Jennifer Turnbull, Richard Lamb, Michael Turnbull, Christopher Jennings, Brittany Jennings, Brian Jennings, Amelia Kemmerer, David Jennings, Ethan Jennings, William Jennings, Emily Turnbull, and Caitlin Turnbull, as well as 11 great-grandchildren; a brother Don Turnbull, a sister Helen Divoll; and many nieces and nephews.

Lee will be lovingly remembered for many qualities—his love for his family, his strong work ethic, his meticulous approach to any task, and his endlessly innovative baking skills to name a few, but most of all, he will be remembered for his steadfast commitment to his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  

A funeral service will be held in First Church of Merrimack, 7 Baboosic Lake Road, Merrimack, NH Tuesday at 11 AM, with masks being required. Burial will follow in Last Rest Cemetery, Merrimack.

Those who wish may make memorial contributions to the Deacons Needy Fund at First Church of Merrimack.