Danny Lane Turpin

Born on April 22, 1947, in Greenville, SC to the late Sue Ellen Turpin and William (Bill) Archie Turpin, he grew up in Easley, SC where he attended school and spent countless hours with his family. Dan graduated from Clemon University on May 8, 1970, with a bachelor’s degree in Park and Recreation Administration. He was a dedicated State Park employee for 33 years and retired as Chief of Parks Programs and Park Promotions for the South Carolina State Parks. After his retirement from SCPRT he worked for The Joe Henry Company as a Salesperson for promotional advertising products.

Beyond his professional life, Dan loved woodworking, reading, and watching Clemson football. He was an avid outdoorsman and enjoyed kayaking, snorkeling, windsurfing, gardening, and anything else he could convince others to do alongside him. He was known for his tireless efforts towards conservation and expanding access to nature for all including starting the Women’s Outdoor Retreat now in its 33rd year where over 175 women would gather to learn new skills and make lifelong friends. His humor and zest for life were legendary, and he took great pleasure in recounting stories of his antics, and playing pranks on his friends and family up until his final days. He found the most joy in spending time with his grandchildren and traveling with his life partner, Ginger. His kindness, sense of humor and love for everyone he met will be deeply missed by all who knew him.

Danny is survived by his beloved life partner, Ginger Gibson Snelgrove, of 25 years; his children, David Turpin (Kylene), Andrea Walters (Ian); and known as “Poppa T” by his cherished grandchildren, Savannah Turpin (Dylan), Kyle Turpin, and Emilyn Turpin. He was preceded in death by his parents.

A funeral service will be held on January 9, 2026, at 11am at Caughman-Harman Funeral Home in Lexington, SC. The family will receive friends at 10am prior to the funeral service at Caughman-Harman.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research www.michaeljfox.org and The South Carolina Wildlife Federation www.scwf.org in Dan's memory.