Kathleen Turnipseed

Kathleen was a lifelong resident of Fresno where she attended Roosevelt High School graduating in 1964. Her life was devoted to helping the underserved, fighting for civil rights, and advocating for students in need. In 1996, Kathleen was named one of the top 10 business professional women for her role as an administrator at the California Institute of Psychology.

For the past 10 years, Kathleen served as the Ombudsperson for Fresno Unified School District, where she worked tirelessly with students, parents, teachers, and administrators to improve how children with special needs were treated at school. Kathleen made it her mission to insure that all students received equal opportunities to learn and grow.

Having just retired in March, Kathleen had big plans for travel and social activism during the next chapter of her life. She recently attended training with the Breaking the Chains organization to learn how to identify and rescue victims of human trafficking.

At home, Kathleen loved to cook and bake and she regularly invited friends and family over to taste her latest dish and share a glass of wine. She was also a lover of animals, especially her two dogs, Togo and Annie, whom she regarded as members of the family.

Kathleen was a loving mother, sister, aunt, and dear friend to many.

She was preceded in death by her parents Dorman and Anna Turnipseed.

Kathleen is survived by her son Patrick and daughter Nicole; sister Deborah Burchfield and her husband David; brother Michael Turnipseed and his wife Gayle; brothers Don and Bart Turnipseed; and many nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be at Whitehurst Sullivan Burns & Blair Funeral Home on Wednesday, October 11, 2017 from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at The Shrine of St. Therese Catholic Church, on Thursday, October 12, 2017 at 10 a.m. Interment to follow at St. Peter's Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in her honor to Angels of Grace Foster Family Agency of Fresno.