Edward E. Turnbell

Edward Eugene Turnbell, 84, of Findlay, died early Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2025, at The Heritage after a short illness.

He was born April 8, 1941, in Carey.

He married Brenda M. Rager on June 19, 1965, and she survives.

He also is survived by a son, Michael, of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., and Lisa (David) Rife, of Findlay; two grandchildren, Lauren (Nicklaus) Ulrich, and Abby Rife, both of Findlay; three great-grandchildren, Journey, Justice and James, all of Findlay; a sister, Darla L. Nye, of Fostoria, and many nieces and nephews.

Ed was the middle child of 12 siblings. He was preceded in death by his parents, Cecil R. Turnbell, on Dec. 12, 1983, and Dottie Ruth (Cole) Turnbell, on May 6, 1977; five brothers, Donald, Nelson “Gene”, Forest “Hal”, Cecil R. “Tim” Jr., and Jerry, five sisters, Mary Lou Noon, Joan Rose “Ann” Puchta, Carol Sue Varney, Karen Barchus, and Donna Sanford, and an infant sister, Joyce Elaine.

Known affectionately as “Eddie” by his siblings and those he grew up with, Ed graduated from Carey High School in 1959, where he was a star on the Blue Devils football team. He served in the U.S. Marines shortly after graduation through 1964. He worked at the Fostoria Foundry, Marathon Oil Co. and Findlex. He was a member of Howard United Methodist Church. He proudly presided over many funerals over the years as a member of the Hancock County Veterans Memorial Squad.

Ed loved the outdoors, including fishing on the Findlay reservoirs and Lake Erie, and hunting for morel mushrooms each spring in the woods of Hancock and Wyandot counties. He took pride in his northside Findlay home, where he resided with his wife, Brenda, since 1970, and loved spending time with their miniature Golden Doodle, Maggie, whom they cherished for 15 years. More recently, he was a resident in The Heritage.

Friends and family may visit from 4 to 6 p.m., Wednesday, October 8, followed by a prayer service at HUFFORD FAMILY FUNERAL HOME, 1500 Manor Hill Rd., Findlay, (419-422-1500). Burial will be at a later date at St. Paul’s Cemetery near Paulding, Ohio.

Memorial contributions in Ed’s honor can be made to Flag City Honor Flight, P.O. Box 885, Findlay, Ohio 45840.