Judith Jean Turpin Oarr

Judith Jean Turpin Oarr, age 85, of College Park, MD has died peacefully at her home on April 13, 2025. Judith was a beloved mother, grandmother and teacher who touched many lives over a long and fruitful career helping others.

Judith was born November 25, 1939 in Georgetown to her parents Richard L Turpin and Jean C Wertz. She was the oldest of four children. As a teenager she moved to Maryland, where she attended Bladensburg Senior High School, Towson University, and the University of Maryland. Judith earned a Master’s Degree and applied her talents to teaching High School English. She served in this career for over thirty years at Frederick Douglass Senior High in Upper Marlboro, where she pioneered new strategies for bringing Shakespeare to students afflicted with dyslexia. Upon retirement she lived a life filled with books, needlepoint, travel, and community service. She was creative, intelligent and vivacious. She loved to sing and enjoyed art. Judith was active in Metropolitan Washington Mensa, the Orton Society, and the Folger Library, and for many years she served as Treasurer of the College Park Woods Swim Club. She was a season ticket holder to University of Maryland Men’s Basketball until she was too frail to attend; she delighted in this year’s run to the Sweet 16.

Judith was a strong woman who lived life on her own terms. She was quick to laugh and slow to anger, generous to a fault. She enjoyed foreign travel and often took the opportunity to visit her sons Richard and Christopher when they lived abroad. Over the past year Judith lost her oldest son and her youngest brother. Those were hard blows, but she never lost her curiosity, her humor, or her lust for life. She lived life fully to the end.

Judith is survived by her longtime partner Erastus “Rusty” Allen; her son Christopher Oarr and daughter-in-law Inci; daughter-in-law Anne Oarr; her granddaughters Sydney Oarr, Brittany Oarr, and Mina Oarr; her great-grandson Hunter Oarr. Rusty’s children Susan Allen (Mike); Erastus Allen (Jill); as well as Rusty’s grandchildren Jonah Nan, Oliver Nan, Emily Allen and Claire Allen. In addition to her immediate family she is survived by her niece Wendy Olson and grand-niece Roya Dadvar ; niece Jocelyn Turpin-Anderson and grand-nieces Grace, Carolyn, Annella and Evelyn Anderson; niece Jessica Harper (Benson) and grand nephews Caleb, Luke, Nathan and Will Harper; nephew Joseph Turpin (Julie) and grand-nephews Jackson and James as well as grand-neice June; nephew RJ Turpin, Jr. and many beloved cousins and dear friends. Judith is predeceased by her brother Bobby Turpin, her father Richard L. Turpin, her nephew Scott Olson, her mother Jean Carolyn Wertz Turpin Paradis, her sister Carolyn Olson, her dear son Richard L. Oarr and her brother Richard J. Turpin, Sr.