Harry Bruce Turnbull

Bruce Turnbull passed away, surrounded by his family on November 22, 2025, at the age of 94. He was born in Scranton, Pennsylvania to the late Robert F. Turnbull and Elizabeth G. (Campbell) Turnbull. Bruce's Family moved to Newark, New Jersey in 1940 where he lived for 19 years. He graduated in 1948 from Barringer High school, where he began his lifelong love of playing the trumpet in marching band, and Rutgers University Newark in 1952 with B.A. in Biology. He proudly served in the United States Army during the Korean War as a Radio Operator and bugler with Headquarters Co., 981st Field Artillery Battalion, 40th Infantry (Sunburst) Division. After the War ended, he was selected as a member of the Division Honor Guard, which returned the Division Colors to California in June 1954. Bruce returned to New Jersey and became an active member of the Second Presbyterian Church of Newark where he met the love of his life, Barbara “Barbie” (Devonald) Turnbull. They married in 1959 and moved to Bloomfield New Jersey, where they lived and raised their four children. Bruce and his family joined the Bloomfield Presbyterian Church in 1966, where he served as Deacon, Elder, and sang in the Church choir, played in the Hand Bell Choir and played trumpet on holidays. He retired as the Director of the Church's Food Pantry in 2016. He also was active in the ''Meals on Wheels'' Program in Bloomfield between 1999 - 2006. During his 42 year career, Bruce was employed by several New Jersey manufacturing companies in the field of quality assurance engineering & management. He retired from his last Employer, Kearfott Guidance and Navigation Corporation, a Division of Astronautics Corporation of America, in 1998. In 2017 Bruce and Barbie moved to Cedar Crest Village in Pompton Plains, New Jersey. Bruce is predeceased by both his mother and father and his younger brother David C. Turnbull in 2009. He is survived by his wife Barbara of 66 years, their daughter, Susan, three sons, Bruce, Stuart and Peter and their wives, and five grandchildren Stephanie, Drew, Cory, and Jordan Turnbull and Abigail Brigman. Also surviving, his sister-in-law Jean Robinson, his nephews, David Turnbull, Jr. and Steven Erickson, niece Jill Erickson and numerous cousins. In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Bloomfield Presbyterian Church on the Green Capital Campaign Fund.

Harry Bruce Turnbull

May 2, 1931 - November 22, 2025