David Turnbaugh

David Turnbaugh, age 93 of Cheyenne, WY, passed away on Wednesday, July 23, 2025.  He was born on January 17, 1932, in Thermopolis, WY to Esther Folkestad Turnbaugh and Chester (Chet) Turnbaugh.  

He was preceded in death by his wife Renee (Dvorak), who passed away in January 2021.

Dave is survived by his four children.

• Mike (Kim) Turnbaugh of Tulsa, OK
• Diane Tappy of Broomfield, CO
• Judith (Rex) Tippetts of Lovell, WY and
• Trudy (Mike) Rowe of Colorado Springs, CO

He is also survived by his five grandchildren.

• Michael David and Christopher Turnbaugh (Mike’s sons)
• Erryn and Jessica Tappy (Diane’s daughters) and
• Jennifer Tippetts (Judith’s daughter)

Dave had also recently added two great grandchildren to his family.  Malik Ganem, age 1, Erryn’s baby, and Carter Horton, age 4 weeks, Jennifer’s baby. 

Dave is also survived by his “fur” grandbaby Cassie, Trudy’s dog, with whom he spent an incredible amount of time and shared a special bond. 

Dave was one of five children and is survived by his four siblings – Carolyn Anderson, Phyllis Kerns, Bruce Turnbaugh and Carl Turnbaugh.

Dave grew up in Thermopolis, WY and lived in Casper and Cheyenne, WY as an adult.  The family home he purchased in 1971 is where he still lived when he passed away.

Dave’s life was long and full and rich and adventurous.  He served in the Navy aboard a submarine tender during the Korean War and then spent 38 years working for the Wyoming State Highway Department.  Throughout his life he had many hobbies.  He enjoyed hunting and fishing, working on race cars as a young man, being a gunsmith and marksman and being a machinist.  Dave was never bored.  Nor was he boring.  He was smart and intelligent and had a quick wit.

Dave was cherished by his family, and they are broken-hearted that he is gone.  The greatest gift that he leaves behind is the love that his children have for each other and for their families.

Funeral services are to be held August 4, 2025, at 2pm at Mortimore Funeral Home in Thermopolis, WY.  A reception will follow at 2:30 at the Thermopolis Golf Course.  Burial will be at Monument Hill Cemetery in Thermopolis, WY.

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