Turpin, Elizabeth Josephine

Josephine Elizabeth Viars Turpin, (Jo) to all who knew her, died Wednesday, April 4, 2007, in Newport News. She was 87.

Born in Radford, on June 17, 1919, Jo called the Blue Ridge Mountains home for more than 60 years. There she found great joy and inspiration in her family, community and beloved church, Morgan’s Chapel, in New River. During her younger years, she was an active and involved participant in church and community life. She taught Sunday school and Bible school, led Girl Scout troops and served as the New River neighborhood correspondent for the Radford News Journal newspaper. She was naturally inquisitive and creative, always questioning, reading and learning new things. She was nearly 60 when she first learned to drive. Even later in life, she discovered a new creative talent oil painting.

Above all, though, it was family that meant the most to her. When her daughters and grandchildren settled in Hampton Roads, she and John, her husband of more than 50 years, left their home to live near them. Known as “Well” and “Papa John,” the couple made a new life for themselves in Hampton and spent many joyous years with family and new friends. When Papa John died in 1993, she took great comfort in having her family close.

She is survived by her daughter, Gaye Hampshire and husband, William “Bud” Hampshire of Poquoson; daughter, Karen Morgan, of Newport News; grandson, Chris Saunders and Michael Evanko of Vienna; granddaughter, Stacey West and husband, Charles “Chuck” West of York County; granddaughter, Jessica Whitworth and husband, Laurel “Trey” Whitworth of Naples, Italy; great-grandchildren, Logan, Melanie, Jason and Ashley West; sisters, Lilly Saul of Portsmouth and Mable Gutherie of Jonesboro, Ga.; brothers, Vintis Viars of Georgia and Bentley Viars of Summerton, S.C.; and scores of nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, John E. Turpin; and parents, Edgar Lee Viars and Nannie Lou Harrell Viars.

Funeral services will be held 11 a.m. Tuesday, April 10, 2007 with J.W. Linkous and Eddie Simmers speaking. Interment will follow in Hickman Cemetery in Pulaski County. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday at Mullins Funeral Home, Radford.