James and Judy Turpin

James and Judy Turpin will be interred on Sunday, October 8, 2023 at 3:30 p.m. at Big Island Baptist Church Cemetery, 1329 Sunset Hill Road, Big Island, Virginia. Rev. Don Harvey, husband to James’ niece, Connie Turpin Harvey, will officiate a graveside service and Connie Turpin Harvey will lead a song with a guitar.

James Norton Turpin, 85, of Orange, Texas, passed away on March 30, 2021, at Harbor Hospice in Beaumont, Texas. A memorial service was held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, April 3, 2021, at North Orange Baptist Church in Orange, Texas with Lynn Ashcraft and Chip Anthony officiating.

Born in Lynchburg, Virginia on October 7, 1935, he was the youngest son of Thomas Raymond Turpin and Laura Louise (Norton) Turpin. None of his family had gone to college. From high school he worked at the paper mill (Owens-Illinois) for four years. Sensing his potential, paper mill executives strongly encouraged him to go to college. They supported him by offering work any time he was back in his hometown helping him pay his way. They made an offer, and he chose to return to paper mill after he graduated from Virginia Tech with a Building Construction Degree. He had worked enough days to accumulate a year of seniority in those four years at Tech. O-I eventually sent his family to Toledo, Ohio, Lufkin, Jasper, Toledo again, and Orange, Texas. Rather than move the family again and loving to be a Texan, he chose to leave O-I in 1980 to join Joe C. Norman Construction Company retiring in 2007. Jim was a very devout Christian and an active member of North Orange Baptist Church, serving as a deacon, volunteering as a Sunday school teacher, and was the chairman of the building committee when the church first moved from town. He also had many hobbies including golf, cooking/grilling, spending time in his garden growing vegetables, fruits and beautiful flowers, hunting, and he even enjoyed water skiing in the James River when he was younger. He loved to read the newspaper every day. He was an excellent grandpa to his grandchildren and a great father passing his faith to children and grandchildren. Jim was one of the most generous and kind men one could ever meet and will be missed by all that knew and loved him.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Thomas Raymond Turpin and Laura Louise (Norton) Turpin; brothers, Tommy Turpin and Billy Turpin.

He was survived by his loving wife of 58 years, Judy Turpin; children, James Mark Turpin and Florencio Vazquez of Austin, TX, and Cara Love and husband Joe of Orange TX; grandchildren, Trey Love and Travis Love; and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Cremation was held under the direction of Claybar Funeral Home in Orange, Texas. His remains will return to the Blue Ridge Mountain town of Big Island, Virginia, population, 310, where he grew up and where his mother, father, and two older brothers are buried on a hill overlooking the Blue Ridge Mountains, the James River, and the paper mill where he began his career and proposed to Judy. He will rest where his life began surrounded by his family.

Judy Jones Turpin, 80, of Orange, passed away on April 8, 2023, at Baptist Hospital in Beaumont, Texas. A memorial service was held 3:00 p.m., Sunday, April 16, 2023, at North Orange Baptist Church in Orange with Reverend Chip Anthony and Reverend Lynn Ashcraft officiating.

Born on April 30, 1942 in Yancey, Kentucky, she was the daughter of Lewis Glasgow Jones and Irene Thompson Jones.

Judy attended Radford University, the all-women’s sister school of Virginia Tech where Jim attended. She and Jim met while in college at a Southern Baptist Student Union mixer. The first of her family to attend college, she graduated with honors from Radford in only three years. She and Jim married while she was still in college. Shortly after graduation, they made their home in Jim’s hometown of Big Island, Virginia. She began her teaching career in Bedford County Schools before leaving to become a stay-at-home mom after the birth of their first child. After many moves following Jim’s career opportunities, they finally settled in Orange, Texas in 1973. When her children were older, Judy resumed her teaching career at Little Cypress Mauriceville School District, teaching both English and Home Economics at the junior high and high school levels. Upon retirement from teaching, she worked part-time for the Stark Museum of Art. Judy thoroughly enjoyed this second career that allowed her to research and delve into her artistic interests. She gave tours, gave special presentations, and wrote curriculum for children’s tours until retiring from the museum.

Judy was a devoted member of North Orange Baptist Church teaching children’s Sunday School and Vacation Bible School when her children were young, traveling with the adults on church trips, and teaching an Adult Ladies’ class for many years. She was faithful in her service to church and was scheduled to receive her 50-year plaque for membership at NOBC May of 2023.

Judy was an accomplished seamstress – making outfits for her children and grandchildren when they were small as well as hemming, patching and repairing in her later years. She also was a talented painter with many of her landscapes decorating the walls throughout her home. Her family loved her famous blackberry cobbler made with berries from Jim’s garden.

As Grandma, Judy picked up the boys from school, helped with homework and provided less than nutritious snacks, like ice cream and “Little Debbie’s”, that they loved. She was especially proud of them and their scholastic success.

She was preceded in death by her loving husband of 58 years, James “Jim” Norton Turpin; and her parents, Lewis and Irene Jones.

She is survived by her children, James Mark Turpin and husband Florencio Vazquez of Austin, TX, Cara Love and husband Joe of Orange, TX; grandchildren, Trey Love and Travis Love; sisters, Karen Winter and husband Bob of Tazewell, TN, Mary Lana Losh and husband Larry of Lynchburg, VA; as well as many loving friends and family.

Cremation was held under the direction of Claybar Funeral Home in Orange, Texas. She will be laid to rest with Jim on a hilltop overlooking the scenic Blue Ridge Mountains in Big Island, Virginia where they began their life together.