Roll Call Tribute

Published in Dallas Morning News on September 12, 2011

Elizabeth Turpin
Turpin, Dr. Elizabeth Rice Dr. Elizabeth Rice Turpin, Professor Emeritus at Ferris State University in Big Rapids, Michigan, life-long learner and a dedicated teacher, passed away quietly on Thursday evening, September 8, 2011, at her son's home in Midland, Michigan. She was 86.

Best known as Betty to her family and Elizabeth to her friends, Dr. Turpin was born in University Park (Dallas), Texas, July 14, 1925, the second of three daughters of Morgan Hampton and Lutie Jane Moulton Rice. She was homeschooled by her mother, and then attended Highland Park High School, graduating at 16. She went on to earn teaching and chemistry degrees from Texas State College for Women (now Texas Woman's University) and the University of Texas, and served in the US Marine Corps as a chaplain's assistant at the end of World War II. Elizabeth married Robert ("Bob") Davis Turpin of Amarillo, Texas, in 1948, and settled with Bob in Austin, Texas, where Bob taught at the University of Texas. They relocated to Columbus, Ohio, for two years while Bob earned his PhD at Ohio State, then returned to Austin. They later moved to Bryan, Texas, where they both taught at Texas A&M, and where Elizabeth earned her PhD in English Literature in 1977.

After receiving her PhD, Elizabeth went on to create new technical writing programs for Clarkson College in Potsdam, New York, and Southwest Texas State University (now Texas State University) in San Marcos, Texas. Following Bob's retirement in 1984, the Turpins moved first to San Marcos, and then to Dallas to be near their grandchildren. After Bob passed away in 1987, Elizabeth decided to return to teaching, and moved to Big Rapids, Michigan, to join the faculty of Ferris State University in 1988, where she taught English, Technical Writing and Journalism until her retirement in 1998. Dr. Turpin was active in 15 professional and five honorary organizations, as well as numerous service and community organi-zations. She was the author of eight textbooks and many scholarly articles and newspaper columns. She received a professional achievement award from the College English Association in 1995, was named a Fellow of the Society for Technical Communications in 2002, and was honored as an Emeritus Professor at Ferris State University.

Dr. Turpin is survived by her sister, Jeanne Marie (Eugene) Lee of Daly City, California; sons David (Anita)
Turpin of Austin, Texas, James Turpin of Albuquerque, New Mexico, and Mark (Carol) Turpin of Midland, Michigan; and grandchildren Dr. Andrea Lindsay Turpin of Waco, Texas, John Robert (Stephanie) Turpin of Juba, South Sudan, and Arlo Elizabeth Turpin of Midland, Michigan.

There will be a graveside service for Dr. Turpin when she joins her husband at Restland Cemetery in Dallas on Sunday, September 18, 2011, at 10:00 AM. A memorial for Dr. Turpin is planned for Big Rapids at a later date.

Friends and family who wish to memorialize Dr. Turpin's life are encouraged to donate in her name to the charity of their choice or their local hospice support organization. Among the many organizations Dr. Turpin supported are the Ferris Foundation of Ferris State Univ-ersity and Broadmoor Presbyterian Church of Daly City, California.