Paid obituary with picture

Times Argus

Worcester, VT

Richard "Dick" David Temple, 80, of Worcester, VT passed away on October 28, 2024 after a long battle with Parkinson's Disease. Dick spent his last moments surrounded by family.

Dick was born on November 14, 1943 in Shelburne Falls, Massachusetts to Dr. John B. Temple and Lillian Cheney Temple. He spent his childhood years in Western Massachusetts, graduating high school from Arm's Academy in 1961. He completed a prep-course at Maine Central Institute before moving onto Norwich University and graduating in 1966 with a Bachelor's Degree in Mathematics. Dick married his high school sweetheart, Betsy Quinn of Colrain, MA, on August 14, 1965. After graduation, Dick joined the Army and was stationed at Fort Hood in Texas which is where the young couple made their first home. During their stay in Texas, their first child, Christopher, was born. Two years later, the family moved back to central Vermont where they set new roots briefly in Montpelier and finally Worcester. He then started his career as a Bond Portfolio Manager for National Life Insurance Company. Two additional children, Gregory and Jenifer, came in short order after moving back to Vermont. Dick worked his entire career at National Life before retiring early at 55.

Dick was an avid outdoorsman who found special solace in the arms of nature. Whether armed with a rifle, fishing pole, golf club, or tractor and chainsaw, you would often find him outside doing the things he loved. He was a lifelong and avid fisherman, specializing in fly fishing where there were few that could out-fish him. He tied his own dry flies and would spend many an evening catching brook trout from the Dog River of central Vermont. He looked especially forward to his annual fishing trip with brothers and nephews on Moosehead Lake in northern Maine. He also enjoyed his fall fishing and elk-hunting trips to Colorado. In addition to fishing and hunting, Dick loved spending time at his home watching wildlife and working the woods. He also enjoyed snowmobiling, bicycling, and playing softball and golf. He enjoyed getting together monthly with friends to watch the full moon. Dick was an exceptional piano and organ player and would accompany Sunday services at Riverton's Congregational Church in his younger years. He also helped lead the local Worcester Youth Group. He was an incredible family man who raised his three children to be strong independent people. He was loved by everyone he met due to his kind nature and big heart.

Dick is survived by his wife Betsy who still lives in Worcester, VT. He also leaves behind his three children and their spouses: his son Christopher (Lisa) of Woodbury, Vermont who provided primary care for him over the last year of his life; his son Gregory (Marla) of Pittsfield, Massachusetts; and his daughter Jenifer (Gary) of Raquette Lake, New York. He has three grandchildren (McKenna, Alexandra, and Autumn) and four step grandchildren (Katherine, Taylor, Dakota, and North). He is also survived by his brother Roger (Jean) Temple of New Hampshire, brother-in-law Kenneth Noyes, sisters-in-law Joan (Gerard) Gilbert, Lou Ann Quinn and Donna Racette, Susan (Robert) Sanderson, and countless nieces and nephews. He was pre-deceased by his parents, two brothers and their wives: Robert (Margaret) Temple and John (Lucille) Temple, and sister-in-law Donna Noyes, all of Massachusetts.

Calling hours will be held at Guare & Sons Funeral Home at 30 School Street in Montpelier, VT on Friday, November 8 from 4-6 PM. A Celebration of Life will be held for close friends and family on Saturday at 1 PM (location TBD). In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Dr. John and Lillian Temple Medical Scholarship (https://marylyonfoundation.org/scholarships/) or the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Trust Fund (https://vtfishandwildlife.com/get-involved/donate/fish-and-wildlife-trust-fund).