Dennis Karl Turbett

Longtime Ridgecrest/Inyokern resident, Dennis Karl Turbett, 65, passed away on 2 January 2022, after suffering from multiple workplace injuries and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease for several years.

Dennis was born on 5 October 1956 in Jacksonville, Florida to Clyde George Turbett and Audrey Jane Sheaffer Turbett.

As with most families in the Indian Wells Valley, the U.S. Navy brought them here in December 1957 when his father, a Control Tower Operator, was transferred to the Naval Ordinance Test Station (NOTS), China Lake. Clyde then received orders in December 1961 for Adak, Alaska at which time Audrey moved the family back home to Pennsylvania. In March 1963, the family returned to China Lake upon his father's discharge from the Navy and acceptance of a civilian position on the base. Ridgecrest/ChinaLake became their permanent home at that time.

Dennis attended local schools, graduating from Sherman E. Burroughs High School in June 974. He was involved in several sports, including swimming, tennis and cross country. He was also a class clown, go figure. He very much a child of the sixties and seventies. One of his favorite memories of high school was when he and his lab partner made nitro glycerin in chemistry class…Hmm.

Dennis spoke frequently of the time he spent in Pennsylvania which also included summer vacations throughout his childhood. Spending quality time with his grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins shaped the man Dennis would grow up to become. This is where is learned to hunt and fish, learning how to handle horses, hunting dogs and guns.

Without a doubt Dennis was a country boy at heart, he never had a good thing to say about the city. He would go out and truly live life to the fullest. He put all of himself into each day, each experience. He lived to spend time outdoors. Deer hunting was his primary passion, but he hunted many other critters throughout his life. Fishing was another passion; creek, river, lake, pier or deep sea, it didn't matter to him as long as he could get a hook in the water. He enjoyed packing into the Sierras either on horseback or hiking. When he was in his element he could slow down and just take life as it came soaking in the beauty around him. The outdoors was his therapy. He was an avid shooter. One of his proudest achievements was attending a junior marksman shooting course leading to the title of Distinguished Expert Marksman when he was young. We spent time out in the desert or mountains as a family enjoying target practice over the years. Good times. In his younger days, he would join the early motocross aficionados out in the desert, racing his motorcycle flat out. He was a Scoutmaster and Scout Commissioner for the Boy Scouts of America for several years. He wanted to teach young men outdoor survival skills and instill in them a love of the outdoors he so enjoyed. Dennis was also a skilled artisan of custom made sterling silver jewelry. He was a member of the IWV Gem and Mineral Society for many years. He would conduct rockhounding excursions in the local area for the club. He would cut and polish stones, then creat all sorts of beautiful jewelry. I'm sure much of his work is still out the somewhere. His mark was a Diamond T logo which was stamped on each piece of work. He assisted James Monroe Jr. H.S. science teacher, Mike Robertson and others on the fledgling Mojave Green Rattlesnake Program in the mid-1970s, traveling around the desert collecting snakes to be sent to UCLA for anti-venom research. He was man of many talents and skills.

He was in Cub Scouts and played Little League baseball as a child.

He spent thirty years working as a civilian employee for the U.S Navy at China Lake. Initially working as a rigger's apprentice and doing range cleanup. His longest and last position was as a journeyman electrician, he was proud and enthusiastic about his work and contributions to the men and women on the battlefield. He was a proud American who was ready to defend her at any cost. Dennis not serve in the military as he had always wanted but felt he did his part by working at China Lake. He was the Chief Steward for the Metal Trades Council Federal Worker's Union and member of the IBEW Local 428; Bakersfield and Local 45, Hollywood. He did a stint working for Kentron, a range contractor, as a generator mechanic in the late seventies and early eighties as well.

Something a lot of people didn't understand about Dennis was that under the goofy, quirky, eccentric and brash exterior he let the world see, was a tender, compassionate heart of gold. He would help anyone who needed a hand in a heartbeat. It seemed like he was always helping people in some way. His friends were family to him, if you were his friend you were family in his eyes. Those folks who truly knew Dennis knew this about him. He liked to tell grandiose "stories"; hmm, nuff said there! He was a devoted provider and protector of his family, he made sure we were safe, sheltered and had what we needed to live. He wasn't fancy about his wardrobe and he sometimes neglected his appearance much to my dismay. He had a twisted sense of humor that drove me crazy at times. He made quite a first impression on folks he met in life but he was good guy according to most. You accepted Dennis for who he was, or not, he travelled through life to the beat of his own drum, he wasn't going to change just because someone didn't accept him. He was who he was, period. He could be a force to be reckoned with, fiercely independent and more intelligent than he gave himself credit for. To put it simply, Dennis was a unique character with a huge personality. He will be deeply missed by many.

Dennis met the love of his life, Jennifer Jean Wilkie, in the spring of 1976 when she joined the IWV Gem and Mineral Society. He always told me from the moment he laid eyes on me I was the one. My poor parents couldn't figure what manner of human being I had brought home. We married on 2 September 1977 at the All Faith Chapel, China Lake. I was 19, he was almost 21. Together, we went through 44 years of life, putting up with each other's quirks and demons, never giving up on each other and never expecting it to end so soon. Where did the time go?

Dennis is preceded in death by his father, Clyde George Turbett (1925-1974); his mother, Audrey Jane Turbett (1927-2021); his nephew, Brian David Rice (1975-2011); his mother-in-law, Aleta Jean Wilkie (1936-2020) and best hunting buddies, Dr. Joseph Mallory "brother" and Deputy District Attorney Perry Patterson, retired. His grandparents, aunts, uncles, a cousin and many friends and coworkers whom he loved. His beloved horse, Porsche and the dogs he loved throughout his life.

He is survived by his wife, Jennifer (Jenny) Jean Turbett; his daughter, Cassandra (Cassie) Jean Boyle (Joe); his son, Alexander (Alex) Levi Turbett (Tonja); grandchildren, Anthony Robert (Robbie) Catlin-Turbett, Owen Levi Turbett, Everett Eugene Turbett, Levi Michael Boyle and Luci Jean Boyle, all of Ridgecrest. His sister, Marilyn Jenelle Gorski (Ken); nephew, Sean Christopher Rice and his daughter Allyson; niece, Danielle Slagowski-Rice and her sons Brandon and Travis, all of Ventura, CA. His cousins, Molly Kinney and Adam Sheaffer of Pennsylvania. His father-in-law, Dewane Eugene Wilkie of Ridgecrest. "Adopted" son, James Frazier and "adopted" nephews, Shaun and Kevin Mallory. His best friend, Marvin Pooley. His yellow Labrador retriever, Maverick. Friends near and far, too many to list.

May you have good hunting, great hunter. There is no more pain. You are free my husband. Until we meet again Paradise, All My Love Forever. Jen

Services for Dennis will be held at Holland and Lyons Mortuary Chapel, 216 S. Norma St., Ridgecrest, CA 93555, Saturday, 29 January 2022, 12:00 pm.

Per Dennis' request, in lieu of flowers, he asks to please bring good weed!

Seriously though, if anyone wishes to contribute to Dennis' favorite charity in his memory, please donate to St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital. Thank you.

01/13/2022.