Obituary

Sydney Burns Vinson Turnbull
(April 13, 2018)

Sydney Burns Vinson Turnbull, of Huntington, died Friday, April 13, 2018 at her residence.  She was born in Ashland, Ky. and grew up in Louisa, Ky.  She graduated as Valedictorian from Louisa High School and attended Mt. St. Joseph College and The University of Kentucky.  She was the second woman to be commissioned a Kentucky Colonel.  She was the widow of the late William C. Turnbull Sr. and the daughter of the late Wayne R. Lindsey and Kizzie Clay Lindsey Vinson and the step-daughter of the late Oscar J. Vinson.  She was the author of two mystery novels, “The Sixth Floor” and “Murder at Sea Level” as well as an autobiography, “Black Patent Leather Shoes”.  She was a member of the National Society of Colonial Dames, the Buford Chapter of the D.A.R., the W.Va. Authors Club and the Patchwork Writers of Huntington.  She was awarded first prize in the D.A.R. Virginia Writers contest and sponsored four children through World Vison for over 25 years and was an active member of The First Presbyterian Church of Huntington. Services will be held 1:30 pm Thursday, April 19, 2018, at the Woodmere Abbey of Remembrance by The Rev. Skip Seibel.  Entombment will follow in the Woodmere Abbey.  Klingel-Carpenter Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.