Glen Turpin's Obituary
In Loving Memory
Glen Turpin was born in Echo Oregon on October 29, 1924 to Elmer and Lena Turpin. He was the middle of three children: Violet Tess and Dorothy Buck (surviving).
He moved to the Lakewood area when he was very young and lived there most of his life. He attended Lake City Grammar School and Clover Park High School.
At 19 he joined the United States Army and was assigned to the 35th armored division. He spent time in Texas and was then sent to France. He was captured while in combat in France and taken to a prisoner of war camp in Germany. The war was almost over at this time but the six months he spent in that camp felt more like six years.
He met his wife, Darlene Atteberry Turpin, while she was doing an internship at Western State Hospital. They fell in love and married. Darlene passed away last April. She was already in heaven waiting to meet him along with their son Daniel. Glen is survived by three children: Tammy and Don Turpin; both of Lakewood, WA, and Ruth Gray (husband Ric Gray) of Redmond, WA; plus two grandchildren Erik and Wesley Barkley.
Glen loved his wife and family. Though scars of war and mental illness kept him from holding down a job, he worked hard to support his family and provide a good home for them. He spent many hours working in his back yard garden cultivation, planting, and harvesting. When asked by his children why he didn’t spend more time on the lawn he said, “You can’t ear grass.” He was a very practical man. To save money he heated the family home with wood. He spent many long hours cutting and hauling wood. He used to joke that he had had a great day out in the woods with “Dolly”. (A hand truck can also me called a dolly).
Glen loved God and though he didn’t attend church he read his bible and prayed regularly. While taking care of him in the last years of his life, I (Ruth) walked in to find him saying his prayers. It warmed my heart to hear him communing with his heavenly father. He is now at peace in the greatest resting place imaginable. Rest well my father. We will meet you again someday.
Arrangements by Mountain View Funeral Home.
Remembrances may be shared on the TRIBUTE WALL
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