Jack Turpin Obituary

Jack Harvey Turpin, Jr., loving husband, father, son, brother, uncle and friend, passed away on Tuesday, October 28, 2025, at the age of 61 in Greenville, SC after a short illness. Jack was born on January 4, 1964, to Jack and Jane Turpin in Dillon, SC. As a young child, his family lived in several small towns around the state before settling in Clover, SC when he was eight years old. He resided there until after his graduation from Clover High School. Jack attended Spartanburg Methodist College for one year before transferring to his beloved Clemson University where he graduated with a degree in finance. Jack was a member of Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity where he met numerous lifelong friends. He will be remembered fondly for his quick wit, friendly smile and loyalty to all he loved. As the son of a high school football coach and middle school music teacher, Jack grew up with a passion for sports, history and music. He played football, baseball, and golf, and he loved all kinds of music. He especially loved Motown and Country Music and was known for his prowess on the dance floor. While at Clemson, Jack worked at Keowee Key Golf and Country Club in the pro shop, which is where the idea of working in the golf profession took root. He studied for his PGA certification and became a head golf professional in several clubs in Las Vegas and California before eventually returning to his beloved South Carolina. He worked at numerous golf clubs around the upstate, including Cross Creek Plantation, The Cliffs at Glassy and Links O' Tryon. Ultimately, the golf profession was not in the cards for Jack, and he developed a passion for selling building and roofing materials at GBS Building Supply Company. His coworkers, builders, and contractors were like family to him, and he loved to take them to lunch, talk over the headlines and dissect recent games with them. Jack's whole life revolved around his family, friends, sports, and the Clemson Tigers. He coached Greenville High Girls Golf for both of his daughters and proudly led the team to win the State Championship in 2012. He also attended all his son's baseball, basketball and football games as his biggest fan and wholeheartedly supported the Greenville High Red Raiders athletic teams. Always, Jack cheered on the Clemson Tigers, win or lose, and he maintained a standing tee time every week with his buddies at Smithfield's Country Club. In fact, Jack would drop everything to give a golf lesson if he was asked and sometimes even if he wasn't! Jack is survived by his wife of 28 years, Karen Willimon Turpin and their three children, Emma, Sophie and Jackson; his mother, Jane Turpin; sisters, Madeline Dukes (Devin) and Mari Heckle (Jim); brother, Bill Turpin; several nieces and nephews; his fur babies, Griffin, Will and Fergie, and many loving friends. He was preceded in death by his father, Jack Turpin, Sr. A visitation from 12:30 p.m. until 1:45 p.m. on Sunday, November 2, 2025, at the Thomas McAfee Funeral Homes, Downtown Chapel immediately followed by a memorial service at 2:00 p.m. in the chapel. Burial will follow at Robinson Memorial Gardens in Easley. To honor Jack's Sunday golf game and his distaste for wearing suits and ties, men are invited to wear their favorite golf polo. Women are welcomed to wear business casual attire. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Greenville High School Booster Club, 1 Vardry Street, Greenville, SC 29601 Friends are encouraged to share their favorite memories of Jack with the family by clicking on the button labeled "Share A Memory."