1947
William
2024
William Leonard "Lennie" Turpin
January 22, 1947 — April 24, 2024
William “Lennie” Turpin, age 77 of San Antonio, TX, passed on April 24, 2024 at Methodist Transplant and Specialty Hospital in San Antonio. He was born in Cali, Columbia on January 22, 1947, the son of Anna and Benjamin Turpin.
Lennie’s youth was filled with travel and adventure given his father’s occupational assignments— living in Columbia, Panama, Puerto Rico, Morocco, Italy, Alabama, and Florida. He graduated from Cocoa High School, Cocoa, FL in 1965 and served in the Marines from 1967 to 1971. After his military service he lived in Tampa, FL and owned a recording studio introducing “The Outlaws”, as well as opening a club named The Performing Acts Center. From 1977 to 1981, he and his wife had an agency which booked musicians like “The Outlaws”, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Tom Petty, and others. Lennie also was known at the time to have had an affinity for Ron Jon Surf Shop in Cocoa Beach.
While tending to his multiple business interests, he also managed to graduate from the University of Central Florida, Orlando, in 1981 with a degree in business. His venturesome, entrepreneurial, and networking mindset led him down many paths. In 1981, he divested himself of his Florida business interests and moved his family to Alvin, TX to assume a management position with a national restaurant chain. It was in Alvin in 1984 that Lennie realized his alcohol and drug addiction had gotten the best of him. Lennie’s sobriety date is May 1, 1984.
From his very first Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) meeting he found a HOPE he had not previously known; a HOPE that led him to a spiritual connection with God and to a Godly way of life. Lennie’s mother was a very spiritual and Godly person, and Lennie spoke often of the strength of the bond that was ignited between them. Lennie’s life changing transition humbly led him to take a laborer’s job with a construction company working out of Alvin. That employment brought him to San Antonio on a construction project where he was introduced to H.L. Zumwalt Construction and the owner Henry Zumwalt, who took a liking to Lennie– earning him the position of General Manager and a 37-year bond was created between them. Lennie remained at Zumwalt until his medical retirement in 2022. Though not an engineer, Lennie’s professionalism and attention to detail positioned him to be certified by both Texas and local government entities.
While attending to his management position at Zumwalt, he continued to keep his entrepreneurial mindset very active. He founded Lone Star Celebrity Services, a concierge service, and was involved in a multitude of music, entertainment, video and film ventures. He worked to bring the film industry to San Antonio through his co-founding of and involvement with The San Antonio Film Council and SAF Studios. To The End,… He Was Still Thinking and Promoting!
During Lennie’s 38 years in San Antonio, he immersed himself totally into San Antonio’s AA arena. He was a member and permanent fixture of Club 12. He was always the greeting and helping hand of AA; always wishing for everyone to find and experience the HOPE and the God that he found. There wasn’t an activity at Club 12 that Lennie wasn’t involved in. Starting in the late 1980s, he also became instrumental in the service structure of Narcotics Anonymous (NA) in San Antonio. Lennie always wanted to get to know the new people so he might be able to discern how he, AA, and NA could assist the newcomer in finding a better life. He loved seeing people grow in both groups. His dedication really shined during COVID when the Club 12 facility was mandated to close. He stated “People need to know we are here for them; they need to have meetings available”… so he instrumented, implemented, and set up daily meetings in the Club 12 parking lot until Club 12 was again open. That Is Dedication To Service and To Others!!!
He was a beacon of strength, marking 40 years of sobriety at Club 12– a testament to his resilience and commitment. As a veteran, brother, father, grandfather, mentor, and community pillar, he touched countless lives, leaving an indelible mark. Though he may have departed, his memory will endure, and his presence will be deeply missed by all who knew him.
Lennie is survived by his beloved sisters Ana Lucia “JoJo” Turpin Hentschel and Christina Turpin Kurczweski; his former wife Gale Balcer, their children Chasity Acton, Brandon Turpin, Brandon’s son Nathan Turpin and Gale’s husband Curtis Balcer; Debbie Davidson and their daughter Savannah Turpin-Bartley, husband Preston Bartley, son Cameron Mabry, and daughters Grace Bartley and Presley Bartley.
Lennie was preceded in death by his parents, Anna and Benjamin Turpin.
In June, Lennie’s ashes will be put to rest at the family gravesite of his parents in Merritt Island, FL.
During Lennie’s 38 years in San Antonio, he immersed himself totally into San Antonio’s AA arena. He was a member and permanent fixture of Club 12. He was always the greeting and helping hand of AA; always wishing for everyone to find and experience the HOPE and the God that he found. There wasn’t an activity at Club 12 that Lennie wasn’t involved in. Starting in the late 1980s, he also became instrumental in the service structure of Narcotics Anonymous (NA) in San Antonio. Lennie always wanted to get to know the new people so he might be able to discern how he, AA, and NA could assist the newcomer in finding a better life. He loved seeing people grow in both groups. His dedication really shined during COVID when the Club 12 facility was mandated to close. He stated “People need to know we are here for them; they need to have meetings available”… so he instrumented, implemented, and set up daily meetings in the Club 12 parking lot until Club 12 was again open. That Is Dedication To Service and To Others!!!
He was a beacon of strength, marking 40 years of sobriety at Club 12– a testament to his resilience and commitment. As a veteran, brother, father, grandfather, mentor, and community pillar, he touched countless lives, leaving an indelible mark. Though he may have departed, his memory will endure, and his presence will be deeply missed by all who knew him.
Lennie is survived by his beloved sisters Ana Lucia “JoJo” Turpin Hentschel and Christina Turpin Kurczweski; his former wife Gale Balcer, their children Chasity Acton, Brandon Turpin, Brandon’s son Nathan Turpin and Gale’s husband Curtis Balcer; Debbie Davidson and their daughter Savannah Turpin-Bartley, husband Preston Bartley, son Cameron Mabry, and daughters Grace Bartley and Presley Bartley.
Lennie was preceded in death by his parents, Anna and Benjamin Turpin.
In June, Lennie’s ashes will be put to rest at the family gravesite of his parents in Merritt Island, FL.
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Saturday, May 18, 2024
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