Raymond Temple

Raymond E. Temple age 93 of Hopedale, IL formerly of Towanda, IL passed away on Saturday, July 23, 2011 at the Hopedale Medical Complex, Hopedale, IL. A service celebrating his life will be 10:00 AM Tuesday at the Calvert & Metzler Memorial Home, Bloomington, IL.Burial will be in Smith Grove Cemetery, Towanda, IL with military rites accorded by the Carl S. Martin Post #635 and the Bloomington American Legion Post #56 Honor Guard. Visitation will be 4:00 PM-7:00 PM Monday at the Calvert & Metzler Memorial Home, Bloomington, IL. The family suggests memorials be made to Hopedale Medical Center, Hopedale, IL. Ray was born June 15, 1918 in Tampico, IL the son of Edwin and Margaret France Temple. He married Alice E. Sutter December 28, 1945 in Towanda, IL.  She passed away November 3, 2004.

 Surviving are 3 Children,

Steve (Leisa Huyck) Temple, Davis, CA

Carol (Bill) Holstine, Nevada, IA

Carla (Leo Jordan) Temple, Lewisville, TX

 8 Grandchildren

Megan, Neil, Teresa, Luisa

Andrew, Rob, Kevin, Jonathan

 12 Great Grandchildren

 1 Brother and 3 Sisters

Ray graduated from Illinois Wesleyan University in 1940 where he was a member of Sigma Chi Fraternity, Captain of the Illinois Wesleyan Basketball and Baseball teams.  His Illinois Wesleyan Basketball teams traveled and played in Madison Square Gardens, while the baseball team was one of three schools to play at the inauguration of the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, NY.  Prior to graduation he signed a contract with the New York Yankees and played in the Eastern Shore League that summer.  In 1941 he was drafted by the US Army and left for boot camp the day that he was scheduled to leave for spring training.  During WWII Ray served under General Patton in Northern Africa for 3 years and Italy (Salerno and Anzio) for 2 years.  He returned from the war and married Alice Elizabeth Sutter December 28, 1945. His early professional years were spent teaching and coaching high school at Clifton, Il.  In 1951 Alice and Ray moved to Towanda where Ray started with Unit 5 at Central School in Normal.  He obtained a Masters degree in Education Administration from the University of Illinois, was a principle at Hudson Elementary School and later at Fairview Elementary School.  Ray retired from Unit 5 in 1979 and pursued his hobbies: farming, raising Red Angus cattle, bridge, watching the Cubs and Yankees, fishing, and enjoying his grandkids and more recently his great-grandchildren.   

Ray was a member of First United Methodist Church, Normal.

Calvert Funeral Home