Perry Lind Turnbull

Perry Lind Turnbull, age 89 of Dardanelle, passed away Wednesday, April 19, 2023, at Jamestown Nursing and Rehabilitation Center.

He was born January 15, 1934, in Lusk, Wyoming to the late Roy Turnbull and Anna Lind Turnbull. During his grade school years, Perry attended Node School in Niobrara County, which was a one-room schoolhouse. He loved to tell the story of when his teacher asked him to memorize the poem “IF” by Rudyard Kipling at a very young age. This poem ended up defining so many principles Perry lived by. He was raised on the ranch his parents homesteaded in Lusk, Wyoming. He worked on that ranch and during his high school years proudly participated in the 4H club having attended the national convention in Washington DC.

Perry attended The University of Wyoming after which he joined the army and served a tour of duty in Germany helping with the post-war policing and rebuilding efforts following World War II. Following in his fathers' footsteps Perry became a Free Mason, adding to his moral code of ethics and service orientation.

After marrying his wife, Vanitta Clair Bertelsen, Perry moved to Dardanelle in 1965 where he served as an executive in a local investment bank playing a significant role in the development of Bay Ridge Boat & Golf Club, the Dardanelle Boat Dock, the former Frontier Motel, the Dardanelle Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, and many other economic development projects in Yell and Pope counties. They even bought an interest in a gold mine in Mexico! One of their investments was in a chain of post-secondary vocational schools known as Capital City Junior and Business Colleges. Perry eventually divested his interest in the investment bank in a trade that converted into his full ownership of the chain of vocational schools. There he found a deep and meaningful purpose in helping his students gain employable skills and meaningful careers. Later he founded Educational Methods Incorporated, a publishing/technology company. He also formed a company called the Double Nickel Club, which was a nonprofit that encouraged driving 55 mph and under, and provided savings and discounts for its members during the fuel crises in the late 1970s. Later in his education career, he founded ITEC, a computer and technology training company focusing on helping people to move into the information technology field by obtaining some of the earliest certification programs that were offered. His interests were many and his aptitude to organize and plan was tireless. He could help you write a school paper in 10 minutes but he never overreached or stole an opportunity for you to learn. He taught that anything was possible and he lived by that principle. He possessed the ability to envision a goal and a belief in the future that rested upon consistent efforts. He didn’t quit.

After retiring from the world of business and entrepreneurship, he spent the remainder of his days tirelessly serving his family nearby and afar. He had an amazing ability to be present, involved, informed, and in tune with every member of his family even when time and distance separated them from him on occasion. He provided encouragement, counseling, and hope to the downtrodden. He loved unconditionally.

He joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints after he and Vanitta were married eventually serving many years as the Bishop of the Russellville Arkansas Ward, where he mentored, served, and genuinely ministered to hundreds of its members. He and Vanitta served the youth of their congregation with devotion resulting in a legacy of friendships and love among them. He worked with many other equally devoted church members to qualify for and help build three church buildings in which their growing congregation met in the Russellville area. He loved boating and fishing with family, and even owed a purple fiberglass Volkswagon-powered dune buggy to run up and down the newly dredged sand dunes on the Arkansas River in Dardanelle. He never missed the opportunity to spin a do-nut in a parking lot of freshly fallen snow. He was fun.

Perry was particularly interested in genealogy. He researched his roots on behalf of his parents and published his findings with family and friends far and wide. He organized and held family reunions bringing family together who had rarely or never met before. He furthered his interest and love in genealogy by serving as an ordinance worker in the St. Louis Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints for many years. He found much peace serving in the St. Louis temple. He had a deep and abiding faith in Heavenly Father and His Son Jesus Christ. He knew of the power of the atonement of his Savior, Jesus Christ.

His daily, audible, prayer was: “Lord help us to touch people’s lives for the better.” -Perry Lind Turnbull

Perry was preceded in death by his parents Roy and Anna Turnbull; stepmother, Ione Turnbull; grandson, Eric Torgerson; uncle, Albion Lind; aunts, Esther Schroeful and Maggie Bannerman, and cousins Jackie Bannerman & Warren Schroeful.

His precious heritage includes his wife of 65 years, Vanitta Clair Turnbull; daughter, Rickie Turnbull Higgins (Wayne); son, Perry Roy Turnbull (Melinda); daughter, Sherrie Vonette Turnbull Torgerson (David); son, Curtis Jay Turnbull (Jerryne); daughter, Jennifer Leigh Turnbull Russell (Chad); stepsister, Jo Ann Downing (Tom); twenty-two grandchildren and thirty-seven great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 P.M., Monday, April 24th, at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Russellville, Arkansas. Visitation will be held Sunday, April 23rd, from 5:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M. at Cornwell Chapel in Dardanelle. Burial will be in Brearley Cemetery in Dardanelle following the funeral.

Arrangements by Cornwell Funeral Home in Dardanelle. Online Guest Book and Condolences at www.cornwellfuneralhomes.com

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