Ellis Ethelbert Temple Sr., 54, formerly of Suffolk, Va., died Thursday, Feb. 5, 2009 at Mary Washington Hospital in Fredericksburg, Va. Mr. Temple was born in Pasquotank County, N.C., the son of Pearl Elizabeth Jennings Temple and the late Ethelbert Beasley Temple, and was the husband of JoAnn Knighten Temple. He was an avid hunter, having belonged to both the Marshall Hunt Club and the Harrell Hunt Club. Mr. Temple was a passionate supporter of local high school sports. He served on Lakeland High School’s Athletic Booster Club and was a track and field official. At Lakeland High School, Mr. Temple also was a member of the PTA and volunteered his time as a tutor. He belonged to the Holland Ruritain Club and Westminster Presbyterian Church in Suffolk, Va. He was a veteran of the United States Air Force.
Besides his mother and wife, Mr. Temple is survived by his sons, Ellis Temple Jr. and wife, Julee, of York, Pa., James Temple, of Charlottesville, Va., Phillip Temple and his fiancée, Kimberly Pevnick, of Columbia, Mo., and Tim Temple, also of Columbia, Mo.; grandchildren, Noah Temple and Cara Richman; brothers, Gerald (Jerry) Temple, of the Gulf of Mexico, and Dennis Temple Sr. of Belvidere, N.C.; and his sister Wannetta Strong, of Belvidere, N.C.
A funeral service will be held on Monday, Feb. 9, 2009 at 11 a.m. at Twiford’s Memorial Chapel with Dr. Ruffin Alphin officiating. Burial will be in New Hollywood Cemetery. The family will receive friends on Sunday, Feb. 8, 2009 from 4 p.m. until 6 p.m. at the funeral home, and immediately following the service Monday in the lobby of the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to the Temple Family Scholarship Foundation, c/o James Temple, 922 Rainier Road, Charlottesville, VA 22903. Twiford Funeral Homes, Memorial Chapel, 405 East Church St., Elizabeth City, N.C., is assisting the Temple family. Condolences may be expressed to the family at www.twifordfh.com.