CATHERINE TURPIN

1936 - 2020

Catherine Turpin
December 6, 1936-November 10, 2020

OKLAHOMA CITY
On November 10, 2020 Catherine Kennedy Turpin (Grout) peacefully passed away, at the age of 83. She was born December 6, 1936 in Oklahoma City to Marie and Duane Grout, the youngest and a twin of 5 girls. She married our father Fred W. Turpin, 60 years ago October 22, 1960. Her husband Fred died just days before on October 29, 2020. We are comforted knowing they are back together.
Catherine attended Villa Therese, John Carroll Parochial School and was a member of the first class to begin and graduate from Catholic High (McGuinness). She attended St. Mary's College in Leaven-worth, KS where she studied art. She met our father Fred on a blind date, ice-skating.
Our mom was known as a very-spirited, honest, generous woman. As a girl, she had many delightful adventures she would regale us with. She was a very gifted artist however she chose to devote herself to her family. She never hesitated to defend her children, family or friends when they needed help and wrote many "letters" to report and correct injustice. She was a "doer" not an observer.
She and our father were very active in their children's lives. They were coaches, homeroom/PTA/Indian Scout/ Boy Scout/Camp Fire leaders. They helped raise the walls and build St. Patrick's Church.
They had three children, David Turpin and spouse Amy Allison-Turpin of St. Petersburg, FL, Dr. Duane Turpin and spouse Meg Ridings-Turpin, children Sam and Molly of St. Louis, MO, and Carolyn Turpin Messick, children Jonathan and Joseph Messick of Oklahoma City, OK. Catherine was preceded in death by her husband Fred, twin Carolyn Regan, sisters Barbara Martin, Mary Beltz and Dolores McGinley-Miller and her parents Marie Veronica Grout and James Duane Grout.
Due to the current situation with COVID-19, the family has decided to hold a memorial service at a later date when it's possible to safely celebrate her life.
Over the past few years both Catherine and Fred were treated with compassion, professionalism and respect from numerous health care professionals. Due to their experiences, the family requests memorial contribu-tions to the Fred and Catherine Turpin Scholarship Fund benefiting Speech-Language Pathology students at the University of Central Oklahoma.
centralconnection.org/turpin