Obituary of Very Paul E. Turnbull

TURNBULL – Very Rev. Paul E., 63, Westmont, died May 15, 2010, at home. Born Sept. 11, 1946, in Mingo Junction, Ohio, son of the late William Oliver and Elizabeth (Koshak) Turnbull. Survived by brother, John W., married to Kathryn, Wilmington, Del.; nephew, Michael O. Turnbull, married to Gina, San Francisco, Calif.; niece, Dr. Sara, married to Patrick Maggitti, Radnor, Pa.; nephew, William Turnbull, married to Rebecca, Kennett Square, Pa.; and great-nieces and -nephews, Sophia, Jonathan, Patrick, Sean, Andrew and Abigail. Also survived by cousin, Dorothy Grecula, Mingo Junction, Ohio. A 1968 graduate of St. Vincent College with a bachelor’s degree in music education, followed by Duquesne University, 1972; St. Francis Seminary, Loretto, 1973; and Yale University, New Haven, 1981. The Very Rev. Paul E. Turnbull, V.F., was ordained by Bishop James Hogan, May 5, 1973, at Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament, Altoona. His assignments included Our Lady of Lourdes, Altoona, 1973 to 1979; Our Lady of Pompeii, East Haven, Conn., 1979 to 1981; St. Patrick, Johnstown, 1981; SS. Peter & Paul, Philipsburg, 1981 to 1983; St. Rose of Lima, Altoona, 1983 to 1985; St. Boniface, St. Boniface, 1985 to 1987; St. John the Evangelist, Lakemont, 1987 to 2001; Dean of Altoona Deanery, 1995 to 2001; Dean of the Johnstown Deanery, 2001; and Our Mother Of Sorrows, Johnstown, 2001 to present. Also, in 1998, Foundation for the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown established the “Rev. Paul E. Turnbull Sacred Music Ministry for the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown,” in his honor and to encourage, present and support sacred music within the Diocese. He was founding member of National Association of Pastoral Musicians (NPM); member of American Guild of Organists; former chairman of Diocesan Music Committee; former member of Diocesan Liturgical Commission; served on Presbyteral Council and Personnel Board; former president of board of directors of Academy of Sacred Music, Altoona; former president of Ecumenical Conference; served on the board of Westmont Family Counseling Ministry; former director of Diocesan Priests’ Choir; and member of Bishop Guilfoyle and Bishop McCort Schools boards. He also was member of several volunteer and semiprofessional choral groups; organ accompanist and soloist; and recipient of the Ecumenism Award from the Ecumenical Conference. The Very Rev. Paul E. Turnbull, V.F., loved to travel, especially by car which resulted in visits to all 50 states and all Canadian Provinces. He was loved and admired by all who knew him, and he will be dearly missed by family, friends, parishioners and the entire Diocese. Transferral service will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday, May 18, at Our Mother Of Sorrows Catholic Church, where visitation will be held from 2 to 9 p.m., with vigil at 8 p.m. Friends also received from 9:30 a.m. until time of funeral Mass at 11 a.m. Wednesday, May 19, at OMOS, Bishop Joseph Adamec, principal celebrant. Arrangements by Frank Duca Funeral Home, Westmont Chapel, 1622 Menoher Blvd., Johnstown. Private interment, Mount Calvary Cemetery, Steubenville, Ohio. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament Organ Maintenance Fund or Music Ministry.