Carl Leonard Turpin, 85, died Dec. 9, 2013, in Oklahoma City. Carl was born at home to Milton Ashby Turpin & Pansy Beth (Holt) Turpin. He grew up in Oklahoma City, attending Bath Elementary School and Webster Junior High, graduating from Classen High School in 1947.
He was a Boy Scout. After graduation, Carl joined the U.S. Army Air Force, enlisting at Tinker Air Force Base. He attained the rank of Staff Sergeant and participated in the Berlin Air Lift. He received the German Occupation Medal w/German Clasp. His honorable discharge took place at Shaw Air Force Base in South Carolina. He bought a motorcycle and rode it all the way from South Carolina to Oklahoma City. Carl then went to work at Tinker Air Force Base as an airplane mechanic. He later went to work for the Federal Aviation Agency, first as an airplane mechanic, then as a production controller, retiring in 1983. Carl held several jobs after his retirement, one being at Scrivner as facilities engineer.
On August 31, 1951, Carl married Carla Erion in Miami, OK. They made their home in Oklahoma City, being one of the first families to have a house built in McLemore Addition in SW Oklahoma City. They were charter members of Hillcrest Heights Presbyterian Church. They later attended The Episcopal Church of the Holy Apostles. Carl’s wife, Carla, passed away June 29, 2013. Carl missed Carla so much. His daughter says that, as a little girl, she always knew when it was time for her dad to come home from work because her mother would be in front of a mirror freshening her lipstick and combing her hair. Our parents were together for over 61 years. Our father was steadfast in his love for his family. He was close to his parents and siblings. Carl had a strong work ethic. He was a dependable, capable man, a man with a strong sense of duty and purpose. His children learned the importance of showing up and being on time from Carl.
A creative, imaginative person, Carl had the ability to think outside the box. When we were growing up, sitting at the dinner table talking about the day’s events, our dad would often say, "Let me play devil’s advocate," and he would present whatever current argument was going on from the other side. Dad could fix anything. When we were little, he built us a teeter-totter that not only went up and down, but around and around. He made a wooden go-cart, and later on, a wind wagon. As a young father, Carl was a noisy snorer when he slept, but his daughter says that, as a little girl, if she awoke in the middle of the night, scared, she would hear his snoring and feel safe.
Carl is survived by his children: daughter, Deborah (Turpin) Astley and her husband Carl, Fletcher; their children, Jacob and his wife Shawna and Susannah and her husband Dustin Tate; son, Michael and his wife Vivian, Millsap, TX; and their children, Matthew and his wife Jenny, Phillip and his wife Aimie, Jennifer, Michael, Joseph and his wife Angelina, and Christopher; son, David and his wife Kim and their son, Joshua, Springboro, OH; great-grandchildren, Alex, Luke, Logan, Laci, Cooper, Kaitlyn, Alerah, Makenzie, Pyper, Haylee, Haven, Alyssa, Laila, and Katy; and nieces and nephews. Carl is also survived by his younger brother, Milton H. Turpin, Oklahoma City; and Frances J. Turpin, Frisco TX. Carl was preceded in death by his wife, Carla; his parents; and his older sister, Julia Turpin Crouse.
In our father’s final wishes and instructions, he wrote that he did not want an obituary. We could not let him leave this earth, though, without a public acknowledgement of the passing of our father. At our father’s request, there will be no formal services. Our parents’ ashes will be joined and scattered in places important to them. Memorial gifts may be made to KGOU Radio, University of Oklahoma, 860 Van Vleet Oval, Norman, OK 73019-2053.
— The Oklahoman on Dec. 19, 2013
1928 - 2013 (85 years)
. Deborah TURPIN, b. 1952 (Age 72 years)
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