Richard David Temple, 80, died Thursday April 25, 2019 at Cedar Hill Continuing Care in Windsor, VT.

He was born June 13, 1938 in Hanover, NH a son of Hubert Stebbins and Elizabeth Temple.  Richard spent his youth living in several places around the Northern New England and New York State.  His sophomore year in high school he began living with his father in White River Jct. and attended Hartford High School where he was a talented athlete in basketball and track.

After graduating from Hartford in 1957 he worked as the cook and manager of his father's car-hop restaurant, Marion's Drive-in.

He married Rosemary McKenney October 18, 1958 and they lived in White River Jct. the rest of their lives.  Shortly after their marriage Richard began working at the US Post Office as a mail handler and continued on until retiring in 2007 after nearly 50 years of service.  He was known at the post office as "#1" due to his seniority at the facility.  This was a distinction he loved to joke about but also took great pride in.

Richard and Rose resided at Cedar Hill Continuing Care in Windsor for the past several years and their family would like to thank all the staff for the wonderful care and support they received.

In his younger years Richard enjoyed participating in adult sports teams.  Following high school a group of friends played hockey on an open rink on Occum Pond.  He also played on a traveling basketball team where his coach, Lenny, noted "Dick often scored in the 20's in those games"

Dick enjoyed spending time with his family and looked forward to visits from his oldest son, Michael, who lived in various places around the country.  He followed all the New England sports teams, especially the Patriots.  He was an avid golfer, passing down his knowledge and skill to his youngest grandson Zachary.  He loved gambling, particularly playing poker and spent many hours with his wife Rose at the dog races in Hinsdale, NH.  He also enjoyed spending time out doors, including hunting, fishing and canoeing on the White River in his younger years and more recently photographing deer, moose and a myriad of birds at their property.

He will be remembered as a generous man of great integrity.  He was often direct in his communication but always fair, and indirectly teaching good life values.

He was predeceased by his wife in November as well as many step brothers and step sisters and several aunts and uncles.

He is survived by his sons, Michael and wife Anne of Franklin, TN and Patrick and wife Linda of North Hartland, VT; grandchildren Alex of Austin, TX and Zachary of White River Jct.; a brother Maurice "Rick" Temple of Temecula, CA; sister Nancy of Lake Tahoe, NV and many nieces and nephews.

Visiting hours will be at the Knight Funeral Home in White River Jct. on Friday May 3 from 1-3PM with a memorial service following at 3PM.

Condolences to Dick's family may be made in an online guestbook at knightfuneralhomes.com.

Contributions in his memory may be made to Lucy Mackenzie Humane Society, PO Box 702, Brownsville, VT 05037 or the American Diabetes Association, 2451 Crystal Drive, Suite 900, Arlington, VA 22202.