Military Monday - William Turnbach Jr

Bill Turnbach was one of the first people I came in contact with when I began my genealogy research over a decade ago.  He was also one of the first people I lost since doing genealogy.

I never got to meet Bill.  I spoke to him through email and snail-mail only.  He was so kind and helpful.  He touched so many of us researching the Blanchfield line.  He was always ready to send photos, disks with information, and pretty much anything else you could want.  I was in Hawaii when we began to correspond and when I found out that he had passed the loss was tangible.

Bill helped me so much when I was first starting out and I realized I knew so little about him personally. We get in contact with distant cousins and we're so excited about comparing genealogical information that sometimes we neglect to get to know the person we're collaborating with.

I was trying to remember when Bill passed and since I was on Ancestry.com already it was easier to do a quick search than open my genealogy program.  When doing so I came across the following:

I never knew the Bill had been in the military.  Being a veteran myself this is very special to me.  I wish I had a picture of him in uniform (or a picture of him period) so I could include him in my Veterans Day tribute.  Maybe a genealogical angel will deliver one to me before November.

So this Military Monday I want to remember a veteran and cousin (2nd cousin once removed) that I wish I had gotten to know better.  Rest in peace, Bill, and thank you for your service.