The passing of Tom Lupo

GREEN SEA Mr. Thomas Eldridge Lupo, age 87, died Friday evening, January 2, 2009, at his home following an illness. Born April 13, 1921, in Green Sea, SC, he was the son of the late Cornie Anderson Lupo and the late Mollie Rouse Lupo.Mr. Lupo was a pre-war Clemson Cadet, but left after one year to fulfill his patriotic calling of enlisting in the United States Army during WW II. He was a Sergeant in the 860th Engineering Aviation Battalion in the South Pacific Theatre and Golden Gloves Champion. During his three and a half year tour he operated heavy equipment in the construction of temporary airstrips as our troops advanced.Following his tour in the Army Mr. Lupo owned and operated Lupo Construction, an excavation business that built many irrigation canals, ponds and golf courses in Marion and Horry counties. Mr. Lupo always found time though to indulge his passion of racing. In 1956 he started in the field for the Southern 500, and went on to become Track Champion at RAMBI Raceway in 1964, and three time track champion in 1965.Mr. Lupo was an avid golfer and tennis player, winning many trophies, and a Master Mason with the Loris Blue Lodge #205 AFM. As a member or Green Sea Baptist Church, he was not only a parishioner but served as a Deacon and Sunday School Teacher.Survivors include his loving wife of 59 years: Carolyn Carter Lupo of the home; one daughter: Tommie Lupo Gautsch and husband Bill of Greenville, SC; one son: Trent Lupo of Green Sea, SC; three grandchildren: Noel Posey, Yon Gautsch, and Katherine Gautsch; one great-granddaughter: Caroline Posey; Two brothers: Cornie Lupo of Green Sea, SC, and Ted Lupo of Fork, SC; and three sisters: Lavenia Hucks of Columbia, SC, Beth Squires of Aynor, SC, and Grace Floyd of Florida.Mr. Lupo was predeceased by brothers Eugene and Wyman Lupo, and a sister Lucille Hunsucker.Funeral services will be 2:00 p.m. Monday, January 5, 2009, at Green Sea Baptist Church with committal services following in Green Sea Cemetery. Pastor Tim Nugent will officiate. Memorials may be made to the Green Sea Baptist Church Building Fund, 1241 Green Sea Rd., Green Sea, SC 29545.


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Founder/Creator - RacersReunion®
updated by @jeff-gilder: 12/03/16 05:48:04PM

May God be with the family at this time of passing. We have lost another great driver of the history of this sport. Treasure who we have left and keep those precious memories.Pastor Ken SharpeRacers Reunion ChaplainLevel Cross, NC

I never knew Tom personally but I remember his name and remember him through news articles when dominating at Rambi speedway. He still was a racing legend and therefore a part of the racing family so our thoughts and prayers go out to his family. God Speed Tom;

Tom was from my part of the world, and us kids knew he had raced in the 1956 Southern 500, and were impressed! My dad an Tom exchanged mutual flips in 1967. On July 4th at Tom's home track, Twin City Raceway (Loris, SC) dad's car broke the steering-idler arm....just as he and Tom (on his outside) were entering the 3rd turn. Both cars went over the embankment, with Tom rolling over a time or two........A month or so later, at our home track, Little River Raceway (Little River, SC) dad and Tom were battling down the frontstretch. Their cars touched, and dad's car managed to get on top of the guard rail and do some pretty impressive acrobatics.....right in front of the crowd.I got to meet Tom again, this past Labor Day at the Darlington Historic festival and have a photo taken with him and the newly-christened Tom Lupo tribute '55 Chevy late model.....special memories...REAL special. God Speed Tom #83.