John R. Turnbull died May 4 in Spartanburg, South Carolina, at the age of 66. Born in Frederick, Oklahoma, he held degrees in organ and piano from the University of Oklahoma, where he studied with Mildred Andrews, and a DMA from the Eastman School of Music, where he also received a Performer’s Certificate and an Artist Diploma. As a Fulbright scholar, he studied organ and harpsichord with Gustav Leonhardt at Amsterdam Conservatory in the Netherlands. Dr. Turnbull was associate professor emeritus of organ and theory at the Petrie School of Music, Converse College, in Spartanburg, where he retired in 2005. He previously taught at Luther College and Eastern Kentucky University. He served as organist and choirmaster at the Episcopal Church of the Advent in Spartanburgh for 17 years, and previously held positions at Holy Cross Episcopal Church in Tryon, North Carolina, and at the First Presbyterian Church, Laurel, Mississippi. A memorial service was held at the Church of the Advent on May 8.
