Obituary of Ronald Turnbull

RONALD TURNBULL (Ronnie), age 90, passed away peacefully, surrounded by family, at the Veterans Unit in Pictou on May 9, 2024. Cremation has taken place. The family will receive visitors from 4-6pm Monday May 13, 2024 at the H.C. MacQuarrie Funeral Chapel, Stellarton from where funeral/prayer services will be held at 6pm for all who would like to attend with Rev. Charles MacPherson presiding. Burial of cremated ashes will be at a later date. Ronnie was born in Stellarton Dec 8, 1933, and lived up “the Bull Pen” during his younger years and remained a lifelong resident of Stellarton, with exception of a few later years where he resided for a short time in New Glasgow and at the Veteran’s Unit in Pictou. Ronnie in his teen years joined the army and was deployed to Korea for the Korean War. He was eventually wounded in battle and returned home to Stellarton after a lengthy stay in hospital. There, he obtained many different jobs; enjoying life to the fullest having fun with family and friends, spending most of his time out about Stellarton, especially the Stellarton rink where he loved to play hockey. You could also find him on the ballfield, the dance floor, or for anyone who really knew him…a hobby he loved of housing homing pigeons. He also loved gardening and looking after a huge garden every summer. He would always plant many flowers out around the house. He loved music, especially country, and would sing along with many tunes. He was a great singer. He also loved dabbling with musical instruments such as the harmonica, guitar, the spoons…even though he never quite “mastered” the art. Ronnie in his travels around Stellarton eventually met a country girl from Scotsburn, Eileen Beckwith, offering to walk her home to her Stellarton residence. She was immediately smitten with him. They continued to get married and have a family. Many wonderful memories were had. They enjoyed many nights of music and dancing and spending time in Scotsburn at the farm. Eileen had to learn to watch her back, as Ronnie would “spontaneously” jump over her performing his “leapfrog” move during their walks. Ronnie eventually obtained permanent work as the maintenance man when the Heather Hotel arrived in Stellarton where he stayed until his retirement after 38 years. Ronnie was a wonderful loving husband as well as father to three children, driving them around endlessly and fulfilling their needs, teaching them sports, skating and many other things dad’s do. His patience was incredible dealing with all the things kids bring. He was a loving grandfather to his grandsons and loved spending time with all of them. Ronnie also loved to hunt and fish, bring home a good feed of fish occasionally. He could be a man of few words, but carried on a conversation once the ice was broken. Some (ok, quite a few) of his words were not the “best” of words, but he wouldn’t be our dearly loved Ronnie we know and love without them. And it wouldn’t be right not to mention his famous words he would say instead of “Yes” …”I GUESS SO”, with his famous devilish smirk, will be forever implanted in our memories of him. Ronnie is survived and will be deeply missed by his wife of 56 yrs., Eileen Turnbull (Beckwith), daughters: Teresa (Dave) Pitts, New Glasgow and Debbie (Andre) d’Entremont, New Glasgow; a son: Andy Turnbull, Stellarton; grandsons: Austin d’Entremont, Christopher Pitts and Jacob Pitts. Ronnie is also survived by his brother Raymond (Leona) Turnbull and sisters Mary Moore and Marjorie Jewell. Many extended family members as well as many nieces and nephews. Besides his parents, James and Martha (Foster) Turnbull, Ronnie was predeceased by sister Elsie Esling, brothers: James (Jim) Turnbull, John Turnbull, Doug (Slug) Turnbull, Harold Turnbull and Dennis Turnbull. Donations can be made to a charity of choice. Flowers welcomed as he had a love for a beautiful, decorated flower garden. “YOU WILL REMAIN FOREVER IN OUR HEARTS”