CENTERTON — Victor “Vic” Irvin Turnage

was born March 13, 1953, in Lexington, Mo. Victor was the oldest child of Loren Brown and Gladys Fern ‘Judy’ (Williams) Turnage. He was raised in Richmond, Mo., and married his high school sweetheart, Joyce Ann Maffitt, on June 16, 1974.

He died on Saturday, March 6, 2021, at Northwest Medical Center after battling covid-19. He will be buried at Mount Pleasant Cemetery in Gravette, Ark.

Vic was preceded in death by his parents.

He is survived by his wife, Joyce; two sons Justin Turnage of Centerton, Ark., and Trent (Christi) Turnage of Bella Vista, Ark.; grandchildren, Jeremy Turnage, Jesse Turnage, Emma Turnage and Elli Turnage; brothers, Louis (Susan) Turnage of Peyton, Colo., Gregory Turnage of Nampa, Idaho, Dennis (Lora) Turnage of Orrick, Mo.; sister, Dawn (Donald) Simpson of Higginsville, Mo.; and one surviving aunt, Charlotte Johnson of Richmond, Mo.

He attended college at the Missouri University in Rolla, Mo., and William Jewell College in Liberty, Mo. The family moved from Liberty, Mo., to Columbia, Mo., Warrensburg, Mo., and then to Bentonville, Ark., all the while working for Knopke Brothers Contractors Supply Company. He worked for them over 25 years as a heavy construction machinery mechanic, then moved into a manager’s position with the company. Later, Vic owned and managed The Lawnmower Shop in Rogers, Ark., worked for CEI Engineering Associates, Inc. as a field inspector, before joining the Bentonville Public School District where he worked for 14 years, most recently as the Bus Coordinator and Bus Driver when needed. Vic was also the Treasurer of the Crowley Cemetery Board in Rayville, Mo., for 37 years after spending his younger years helping maintain the grounds.

Vic had been a member of the Bentonville Community Church of the Nazarene for 25 years where he was active in almost every aspect of church life. Vic tackled plumbing, electrical, and structural projects along with his passion in the Tech and Media Center. Vic spent countless hours preparing for church services, funerals, weddings, along with taking children to church camp, preschool children on field trips, and custodian for a time. He was very modest, reserved, and steadfast doing things behind the scenes to help others, never desiring recognition. Vic’s motto was to do everything to the best of his ability as if he was doing it only for God.

Vic went on two Work and Witness mission trips, Moscow in 1998 and Jamaica in 2008. Because Vic had a heart for missionary work, the family requests memorials be made to the Bentonville Community Church of the Nazarene who is partnering with the Bentonville Public Schools to help homeless students find permanent housing within the area which is a mission field right here in our ‘own backyard’. “To make a gift, go to www.communitynwa.org church and click on ‘info’.”

Visitation will be Tuesday from 9:30-10:30 a.m., at Bentonville Community Church of the Nazarene.

A celebration of Vic’s life will begin Tuesday at 10:30 a.m. with Pastor Mark Snodgrass officiating. Interment will follow at Mount Pleasant Cemetery located near Gravette.

Arrangements by Epting Funeral Home Bentonville. Condolences: www.eptingfuneralhome.webs.com .