C. Richard (Dick) Turnbow

C.Richard “Dick” Turnbow, age 96, of Dallas Texas, died November 8, 2019. Dick was an extremely devoted and loving husband to his wife, L. Elizabeth “Betty” Turnbow of 68 years and to his two children.

Dick was born October 26, 1923 in Arcola, Illinois to Jess and Irene Turnbow and attended early school in Centralia, Illinois. He attended the University of Illinois for two years and then entered the United States Army as a medical aid-man. As a member of the 469th Medical Collection Company, he served in Rhineland and central Europe. He was awarded two bronze stars during his tour. As he was being redeployed for the war in Japan, the war ended.

He returned to the University of Illinois and graduated in Business Management in June 1947. He returned to the University of Illinois a year later and graduated in law and was admitted to practice in 1951. He met Betty at the University of Illinois and they were married on August 11, 1951.

He was in private law practice until he joined Ohio Oil, now Marathon Oil Company’s legal department in January 1958. He was head of the legal departments in Illinois, Alaska and Colorado. He retired from Marathon in July 1986 but remained as a consultant until June 1996 for problems with ongoing international litigation.

Dick was an avid golfer for most of his life, starting at a very young age playing with his father. He was a member of the University of Illinois golf team. In his earlier years of retirement, he loved to play golf at Sweetwater Country Club in Sugar Land.

He and Betty lived in Sugar Land for 25 years before moving to Dallas in 2007 to be near his daughter and her family. Dick faithfully supported his three grandsons by being present at their many events from band concerts to track meets to karate shiais and to high school and college graduations. Attending the wedding of his oldest grandson and getting to meet his two great grandchildren were special times as well.

Dick and Betty are members of Christ United Methodist Church in Plano.

He is survived by his wife, Betty, and two daughters, Laura (Alan) Murray of Coppell and Linda Walsh of Santa Cruz, California. He is also survived by a brother, Robert Turnbow of Aurora, Colorado, a sister, Margaret Beach of Bay Village, Ohio, three grandsons, Kyle (Grace) Murray of Trophy Club, Tyler Murray of Nashville, Tennessee and Shane (Hannah) Murray of O’Fallon, Missouri, two great-grandchildren, Emma and Declan Murray of Trophy Club and several nephews and a niece.

A memorial service and celebration of his life is set for 11:00 a.m. November 16, 2019 at Christ United Methodist Church, 3101 Coit Rd., Plano, TX 75075.

The family respectfully requests that in lieu of flowers to donate to the Paralyzed Veterans of America, the Alzheimer’s Association or to a charity of your choice.