Wayne Worth Turnbull

Wayne Worth Turnbull of Chattanooga, TN and New Orleans, LA passed away unexpectedly from natural causes on January 17, 2023. After checking in on his 3-week-old granddaughter, he was packed and ready to depart for Cat Island, Bahamas the next morning with dear friend David Drake.

Wayne was born in Milford, IL on April 24, 1939 to Samuel McIntyre and Elizabeth York, and later adopted by his beloved stepfather Francis Worth Turnbull. He spent many happy years as a boy hunting rabbits and birds in the fields around Milford, beginning an enduring love of the outdoors.

Wayne spent his school years in New Orleans attending Alcee Fortier High School where he made lifelong friends with John Wells, Jimmy Schaumburg, Nupe Newman and others who helped him build and race hot rods and truly embrace the Louisiana sportsman’s paradise. Wayne went on to Tulane University where he played football before joining the Marine Corps in 1960. He was a proud Marine to the end.

After the Marine Corps, Wayne went to work for the family business, Turnbull Cone Baking Company, and was instrumental in engineering and building the company’s first Melba Toast ovens.

In 1980, Wayne built a new cone manufacturing plant on Moccasin Bend in Chattanooga and in 1988 branched off to start his own venture, Custom Baking Services, producing private label sugar wafer cookies for Nabisco, Keebler and other leading brands. At the time of its sale in 2002, the company employed up to 300 people.

In retirement, Wayne spent time doing everything he loved most – hunting, fishing the redfish flats of Louisiana and cruising the Caribbean in his beloved St. Somewhere. He treasured his two daughters, Katy and Whitney, and sharing all his wisdom, talents and adventures with them.

A man with a big heart, an adventurous spirit and a true love of friends and family, Wayne loved telling big stories, a dirty martini, any grand adventure, and a beautiful sunset. His generosity and kind heart reached many and he truly embodied “the man, the myth, the legend.”

He is survived by his children Katy Turnbull of Nashville, TN; Whitney Turnbull (William Boyd) and granddaughter Daly Rowe Boyd as well as loving former wife Daly Turnbull.

Along with many treasured friends, the family will hold a celebration of Wayne’s life at The Turnbull Building on February 1st, 2023, from 3-5pm. The ceremony begins at 4pm.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in his name may be made to The Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation, The National Park Foundation or a charity of your choice.

Arrangements entrusted to Lane Funeral Home, 601 Ashland Terrace, Chattanooga, TN 37415 www.lanefh.com  423-877-3524.