Charles Irwin Turnipseed

Chuck Turnipseed of Newark, CA died after a brief illness, at the age of 92, on June 21, 2025. Chuck was born in Oakland in 1932 amid the Great Depression. He never felt his childhood really lacked anything, though, because of the strong bond between him and his family, and all the activities that filled his life from the time he was old enough to walk on his own.

He participated in scouting, competitive kite flying, and youth baseball, and even attempted to recruit local businesses and the Oakland Police Department as sponsors when funding was in jeopardy. His parents, particularly his mother who delighted both in his accomplishments and his misbehaviors—took pride in his initiative and talent, driving him and his teammates to out-of-town games, and for victory ice cream parties afterward.

His other outdoor passions were fishing and camping, things he was introduced to as a child by his grandfather and uncle who remained important figures throughout his life. He continued to play baseball—and every other sport, too—as he entered his teens and became one of the most valuable athletes at St. Mary’s High School. At St. Mary’s, he made lifelong friends and reluctantly learned discipline from the brothers. The road to that discipline was rocky and included an incident that involved painting a rival school’s front steps St. Mary’s colors which resulted in an overnight stay at the police station.

After high school, Chuck joined the Air Force. He was stationed to Japan during the Korean War working as a radio operator, so despite the safety of distance, he felt the reality of war, noting the planes that had radioed out, but never radioed back in. To keep himself and his fellow airmen active and in good humor during their downtimes, Chuck helped organize baseball and basketball teams. After his service ended, encouraged by his father who worked for Chevrolet, Chuck took a job with General Motors, first in Oakland, then later in Fremont.

By then, Chuck was married to Judy, and Fremont, a relatively small town with a lot of potential, seemed like a pleasant place to raise their three children. His sporting interests became part of his identity as a father. His children not only flew kites but learned how to construct their own and how to observe the wind to improve flight. He coached baseball for Fremont American Little League and Judy served on their Women’s Board, while the kids participated each in their own way, be it playing baseball, scorekeeping, or working in the snack bar.

After retiring from General Motors, Chuck added gardener to his outdoor skills, turning the ideas in Judy’s head into reality and creating a multi-purpose garden with distinct areas including a vegetable and herb garden that provided everyone they knew with heirloom tomatoes long before they were grown commercially.  When he wasn’t in the garden, he continued to fish, both at Lake Chabot and Quarry Lakes, and he also found the time to reconnect with two groups of old friends.

The first were former General Motors employees who had gone their separate ways when the Fremont plant was closed in the ‘80s. They formed an alumni club and got together every few months for a group lunch. Eventually Chuck became one of the group officers and took on various projects including a drive for Marines’ Toy for Tots every Christmas.

At this same time, he became reacquainted with several high school friends when he was admitted to the St. Mary’s Athletic Hall of Fame. Those friends, and his alma mater, became important parts of his life in later years, with many social occasions celebrated both at the school, and just among the friends and their wives. The ties that bound him to his dearest friends and family remained strong to the end, and he was grateful for those friendships as well as for his grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Chuck was predeceased by his sister Doralee Santi and daughter Beth Turnipseed. He is survived by his wife Judy, son and daughter-in-law Glen and Eileen Turnipseed, son Charles/Lee Turnipseed, grandsons and granddaughters-in-law Brooks and Melynn Turnipseed, and Gavin and Nadia Turnipseed, and his great-granddaughters Lily, Ebba, and Paisley.

A private family memorial will be held. Donations may be made to St. Mary’s College High School in Berkeley or Marines’ Toys for Tots.