Maria "Ria" Lena Langton Turnbow, 75, of St. Louis Missouri passed away unexpectedly on January 11, 2024, at Mercy Hospital in St. Louis.
Ria was born on August 27, 1948, to the late Warren Langton and Lena Grolimund Langton in Regensburg, Germany, while her father was serving there in the US Army. The family later moved to Seattle, Washington, Pacific Grove, California, and to Waynesville, Missouri for her junior year in high school before returning to and settling in Pacific Grove. She always considered Pacific Grove to be her true home, and she loved it dearly.
She is survived by her husband of nearly 34 years and partner for 36 years, Gerald "Jerry" Turnbow of St Louis, MO; her brother Delmar Langton and his wife Laurie in Mt. Vernon, WA; her sister Erin Field and her husband Leslie in Pacific Grove, CA, and numerous cousins, nephews, and nieces along the western coast from California to Oregon to Washington state to Alaska.
Although Ria and Jerry had no children of their own, she was the beloved "TiaRia" to several generations of nieces and nephews on both sides of their families.
Ria obtained an AA in general studies at Monterey Peninsula College. She then spent a year at San Francisco State University (preschool education and social studies), and finally two years at Pacific Oaks College, earning a BA in early childhood development.
After working various jobs, she went to work for the Veterans Administration in Portland, Oregon, as a ward secretary. From there she went to Temple, TX for training as a Personnel Specialist. When she completed her training, positions became available in Chicago, IL and St. Louis, MO. She opted for the latter, moving to St. Louis in 1987. It was there that she met her future husband, Jerry Turnbow in 1988. They were married on Cinco De Mayo in 1990.
It was a nearly perfect match. While Ria loved singing and playing music and dancing, Jerry was, by his own admission, "dance impaired", which he cited as the reason he became a musician - to avoid embarrassing himself on the dance floor but still be able to participate in the fun.
Ria had played clarinet in junior and high school - her junior high band director was Herb Miller, the younger brother of Glenn Miller of the renowned Glenn Miller Orchestra. She also sang and played electric bass in a folk group with her friend, Jeanine while living in the Pacific northwest.
With next door neighbor Len Fiedler and Jerry's longtime friend, Steve O'Connell, Ria and Jerry formed a folk/bluegrass/gospel quartet. Since there's not much clarinet in bluegrass music, she learned to play the upright bass and was able to sing and play bass at the same time, which is not the easiest thing to do.
When asked for a name early on, they just said they were just a couple of friends and neighbors, and that became the official name of the band - "Friends and Neighbors". They played for many events over the years, including Jerry and Ria's wedding. Jerry's country band, "Sidekix" played most of the night, but the all the members of Friends and Neighbors were in the wedding party, so they got up and played a set with Ria in her wedding dress.
Over the years, Jerrys bands provided Ria plenty of opportunities to dance, and she was a huge fan of all of them - first country line dancing with Sidekix, then around 1999 Ria and Jerry were introduced to the "Parrothead" phenomenon, when Jerry joined the trop-rock band, "Phins". Together they went to many "Phlockings" - gatherings of Parrotheads in places near and far, including Key West, FL, Put-In-Bay, OH, Orange Beach, AL, New Orleans, and so on. Ria could be seen dancing at these events while Jerry played, and she made many good "phriends" from all over the country. She and Jerry remained members of several Parrothead Clubs, years after Phins disbanded following a thirteen-year run.
The music also gave Ria an opportunity to dress up in her outfits - cowgirl boots, hats, and other western apparel during the country era, and colorful tropical attire and accessories for the trop-rock music. She was a joyful sight to behold, and in her true element when holding court on the dance floor.
In addition to dancing and music, Ria loved to laugh, which was a good thing being married to a wiseacre like Jerry. She even joined, and sometimes lead a "Laugh Yoga" class.
Ria loved to travel, having gone on several cruises and overseas adventures with her mother and siblings. Ria and Jerry went on frequent road trips near and far for gigs for Friends and Neighbors and Jerry's other bands. There were multiple road trips to music festivals and concerts, often bringing family members along for the ride in their motorhome. She loved sharing these trips with others.
Ria was a very giving individual, helping others who were less fortunate. She sponsored several children through the World Vision Organization, donated frequently to social and environmental causes, and helped friends with rides, moral and sometimes financial support, and guidance whenever the need arose. She was a good friend to others.
When Ria was diagnosed with Parkinsons disease, her dancing was severely curtailed, but she was still a devoted fan of Jerry's music, promoting concerts and introducing others to his groups, and she continued to attend the "phlockings" of the local Parrothead clubs, as well going to theatrical shows and concerts.
At the time of her passing, Ria and Jerry were planning a westward trip to California following part of the old "Mother Road", Route 66. Jerry will be honoring those plans by driving her cremains out that way to a celebration of life in her beloved Pacific Grove with her siblings and west coast cousins, nieces, and nephews.
There will be a local celebration of life for Ria in April 2024 - Likely in Pacific Grove. Details will be posted on the Facebook group "Remembering MaRia Turnbow" as they become available.
In lieu of flowers, donations to World Vision or any other charity that supports children, the environment, or world peace would be greatly appreciated.
"Sing like no one is listening, love like you've never been hurt, dance like no one is watching, and live like it is heaven on earth."
- Mark Twain
"If you stumble, make it part of the dance."
- Unknown
