Carl Turnbow

Carl Eugene “Gene” Turnbow was born on December 13, 1938, in Andrews, Texas, to Clarence Richard “CR” Turnbow and Lela Bernice Britton. Carl, aged 85, was surrounded by his loving family as he passed peacefully away at home following a few months of declining health. 

Carl had been a resident of Katy, TX for 25 years. He had been a member of Fry Road Church of Christ in Katy. He was a dedicated Christian who focused his life on serving the Lord and making sure that his children were brought up in a Christ centered home. 

Carl graduated from Carlsbad High School in Carlsbad New Mexico in 1956. Immediately following his high school graduation, Carl enlisted in the United States Air Force. He served with the USAF Strategic Air Command during the Cold War where he was a mechanic on B-47 and B-52 bombers. 

While in the 7th grade, he met the love of his life, Alice Anna Wilkinson, at Hillcrest Church of Christ in Carlsbad. Immediately following Alice’s graduation from Carlsbad High School, Carl and Alice married on May 25, 1958 at Hillcrest Church of Christ. They began their married life by driving from Carlsbad, NM to Tampa, FL where Carl was stationed at MacDill Air Force base. Carl was next stationed at Walker Air Force Base in Roswell, NM. 

After Carl left the Air Force, the couple lived in Carlsbad, NM, Snyder, TX, Kearny, AZ, and La Porte, TX. Carl’s interest in science led him to pursue a career in chemical analysis in several different companies that processed potash, magnesium, copper, and oil. Carl worked for several years at American Potash company in Carlsbad. He retired from Exxon in Baytown, TX in 1997. Carl and Alice settled in Katy, TX after their retirement. 

Carl and Alice were wonderful parents who provided a loving home to their three children. Kathy, Ron, and Janet were fortunate to have a father who could do absolutely anything he put his mind to. Carl repaired the family autos, built furniture for their home, built a camper for his truck, hunted, fished, and gardened. The young family took annual camping trips to the Rocky Mountains. On one of those camping trips, Carl so accurately imitated a growling bear that his young children were absolutely sure a bear was chasing them as they ran to the safety of their travel trailer, much to their mother’s amusement. 

Carl was a doting grandfather to nine grandchildren. He welcomed the first children to Kathy, Ron, and Janet, by building them each a beautiful wooden cradle. He went on to craft each family an exquisite wood rocking horse. The grandchildren were recipients of handmade booster chairs, child sized furniture, wood puzzles, and other wood toys. 

Carl is survived by his daughter Kathy and son-in-law Larry Jones of Katy, TX, Ron and daughter-in-law Ange Turnbow of McKinney, TX. He is also survived by seven grandchildren: Lela and Kellen Kemp of Katy, Rachelle and Reese Herring of Fort Worth, Monica and Adam Sims of Lubbock, Melina and Brady Cook of Greenville, TX, Mitchell and Ariana Turnbow of Fort Collins, CO, Will Grotewold of Pensacola, FL, and Alyssa Perego of Katy. Carl was the loving great grandfather of 13 great grandchildren: Jacey, Rylan, Keegan, Gavin, Logan, Jolie, Owen, Hannah, Levi, Avery, Oliver, Hattie, and Addison. Carl is also survived by his brother-in-law, James and sister-in-law Stephanie Wilkinson of Tomball, TX, as well as nieces Beth Foster and Cindy Cogburn of New Mexico and nephew Jeff Wilkinson of Tomball. 

Carl was preceded in death his loving wife of 66 years. Alice passed away on May 8, 2024, just three months before Carl’s passing. He is also preceded in death by his parents Clarence and Bernice Turnbow, sister Nora Lackey, daughter Janet Meyer, grandsons Steven Ryan Starr and Alex Hayden Starr. 

Carl will be laid to rest at Carlsbad Cemetery on Saturday, September 7, 2024 at 3:00 PM. Denton-Wood Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.