Donald Edward Turnell's Obituary
Donald Edward Turnell, age 69, of Lewes, DE passed away on Monday, January 11, 2016, at Christiana Care Health Systems, in Newark, DE, after a very short battle with Leukemia. He was born on December 2, 1946 in Providence, RI, to Chester and Alice (Canning) Turnell.
Donald lived in RI until his father’s job relocated the family to Utica, NY. He eventually moved back to Providence and then to the Boston area where he worked for Blue Cross/Blue Shield. Eventually, he and his family of 3 sons, moved to Martha's Vineyard where Don was a 4th generation of settlers in the Oak Bluffs Camp Meeting Association. On the Vineyard, he pursued a career in construction and also managed the Harbor View Hotel. In 1996, he met Donna Jeanne and shortly thereafter moved to Englewood, NY where they were married on August 9, 1997, and lived until July of 2013 when they retired to Lewes, DE.
During their 18 year marriage, Don and Donna Jeanne traveled extensively including 12 trips to CA and the wine valleys, Aruba, Curacao, Hawaii, London, England, and finally a 2 week cruise to the Caribbean in November of 2013.
Donald loved carpentry and was known to be able to fix almost anything. He was a beach-goer and enjoyed boating in his retirement. He also was an avid reader of the author, Clive Cussler.
Donald is survived by his wife, Donna Jeanne (Schutz) Turnell of Lewes, DE; his three sons: Don E., Alan, and Michael; five grandchildren; 1 great granddaughter; his sister, Patricia Steward; his brother in law, Howard Steward; and his nephew, Scott Steward, all of Martha's Vineyard, MA.
A gathering of friends and neighbors of the close-knit cul de sac, where the Turnells live, will be held at a later date as well as a memorial service and celebration of Don's life to be held in New Jersey.
Please sign Mr. Turnell's Life Memorial guest book located on this site.
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