OBITUARY
Barbara Burroughs Turpit, wife of retired Los Angeles County Superior
Court Judge W. James Turpit for more than 57 years, died Dec. 23 at their
home in Corona del Mar after suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. She was
81.
Mrs. Burroughs was born and raised in rural Plainville, Kan. and attended
Marymount College in Salina, Kan. After marrying Nebraskan Turpit, Mrs.
Burroughs and her husband settled in Whittier at the end of World War II,
and raised their four children, Lorrie (Mike) Smith of Corona del Mar,
John (Virginia) Turpit of San Diego, Elizabeth (Herbert) Reynolds of New
York City, and Bill Turpit of Costa Mesa.
In addition to her family responsibilities, Mrs. Burroughs was deeply
engaged for three decades with two Whittier organizations, the Altar
Guild at St. Matthias Episcopal Church and the Whittier Republican
Women’s Club, serving in leadership positions with both groups. She was
also active with the Whittier chapter of the National Charity League.
After 43 years of residence in Whittier, Mrs. Burroughs and her husband
moved to Corona del Mar in 1988 to be closer to their four
granddaughters, Allison and Catherine Smith and Julia and Anna Turpit.
Mrs. Burroughs was known as a loving friend, who was a skilled cook and a
gracious hostess.
A memorial service is planned for 11:30 a.m. Tuesday at St. Matthews
Traditional Episcopal Church in Newport Beach.
Memorial contributions may be made to either the Alzheimer’s Assn. of
Orange County, 2540 N. Santiago Blvd., Orange, CA 92667, or the St.
Matthias Altar Guild, 7560 S. Washington Ave., Whittier, CA 90602.
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