Richard Templeton

Richard Edwin Templeton, 73, of Abilene, passed away on Tuesday, May 7, 2024 in Abilene.

Visitation will be held 5:00 to 7:00 p.m., Thursday, May 9, 2024, at The Hamil Family Funeral Home, 6449 Buffalo Gap Road, Abilene.

Funeral services will be held 2:00 p.m., Friday, May 10, 2024, at Oldham Lane Church of Christ, 5049 Oldham Lane, Abilene, with James McCoy officiating. Burial will follow in Elmwood Memorial Park.

Richard was born to Merle Edwin (Cox) and Silas Edward Templeton, Jr., in Fort Worth, Texas on November 25, 1950. Richard graduated from the University of Texas Pharmacy School in 1971 and married Judith May Rude on December 23, 1971, in San Antonio, Texas. He worked in pharmacies in San Angelo & Sweetwater before returning to Abilene to take over Templeton/Kimbrough Pharmacy when Ed Templeton passed away.  He built a new building for Templeton Pharmacy on Judge Ely, and eventually sold the business to Eckerd’s in 1997, and worked for them for a very short time before joining Wal-Mart, & Sam’s as Pharmacy manager.  He ended his long pharmacy career working for The State Supported Living Center as a Staff Pharmacist, where he actually “had a chair to sit in for the first time,” as he was excited to tell me.

 Richard is preceded in death by his parents, and two infant children, Calvin & April May.

Richard is survived by his wife Judy of Abilene; sons, Jess Albert Templeton and Seth William Templeton, both of Abilene; brother, Steve Templeton and wife Laura, also of Abilene; a cousin, Suzzane Dansby & husband David from Denton, Case Templeton, Thomas & Tessa Clingenpeel and their 4 children, all from Houston, and special friend Charlotte Williams of Abilene.  He is also survived by a host of other nieces, nephews, cousins and extended family.

Pallbearers are members of the Lone Star Early Bronco Club: Todd Woods, Michael Strickland, Chris Davenport, Chris Levens, Tony Roper, & Sam Morris.

 Richard really enjoyed living life to the fullest!  He was perpetually curious, always learning something new, and a plethora of hobbies kept him and his children constantly engaged in living that full life.  He earned his Eagle Scout in Troop 1 of Abilene, and later served for years as an Assistant Scoutmaster in Troop 245 in Hawley.  He served as an Elder at the Hawley Church of Christ for many years, the security team at Oldham Lane Church of Christ, as well as stints on the Hawley School Board and Hawley Water Department Board.  For years he also served as an integral part of the Hawley Volunteer Fire Dept. He was an accomplished competition pistol silhouette shooter, and enjoyed hunting elk and deer with both bows and rifles, using the meat  to make a mean elk jerky!  He was happiest when including Jess, his special needs son, as well as Seth, in sail boating, flying, canoeing, snow skiing, rappelling, snowboarding, motorcycling, hang gliding, hunting, camping, and many other activities. He delighted in taking kids to various church camps and mentoring them summer after summer.   His last and possibly greatest love was “rock crawling” with what he fondly called his “other family,” the Lone Star Early Bronco Club, building, modifying, driving, tearing up, and then repairing customized antique Broncos down around Mason, TX for the sport.  

 Just this week, I’ve heard him called a “Gentle Giant” and “Father Figure” by his friends, family and co-workers.  He was truly the type of man who would give you “The Shirt Off of His Back,” if you needed it.  He was a ROCK in a large number of people’s lives, and will be sorely missed by all whose lives he made better by just being his “Gentle Giant” self.  RIP brother…