Harold Wayne Temple of Plainview, longtime professor at Wayland Baptist University and onetime pastor of Old Rock Baptist Church in Somerset, died Jan. 27. He was 86. He was born Nov. 2, 1938, in Corpus Christi to Ralph Lee and Maudie Christine Ashley Temple. After graduating from Bishop High School in Bishop, he spent a summer working on a bee farm in North Dakota before enrolling at Southwest Texas State College, where he earned both his bachelor’s degree in chemistry and a master’s degree. While in college, he met Audrey Jean Bosak, and they were married in Old Ocean on Sept. 2, 1960. They soon moved to Arlington, where she taught elementary school and he taught at Arlington State University while working on his Ph.D. at Texas Christian University. After receiving his doctorate in 1969, the Temples moved to Beaumont, where he worked for Dupont Chemicals. Deciding corporate life was not what he aspired to do, the family moved to Pleasanton, where he continued his teaching career at Pleasanton High School. While they lived in Pleasanton, he was pastor of Old Rock Baptist Church in nearby Somerset. In 1976, the Temples moved to Plainview, where he was a professor of chemistry at Wayland Baptist University. During his time at Wayland, he taught every chemistry course in the curriculum—as well as other science courses—and was dean of the graduate program from 1983 to 1988. More than half of his students went on to attain post-graduate or professional degrees, including three who went on to become chemistry professors at Wayland. In addition, he taught at Wayland campuses in Lubbock, Wichita Falls and Anchorage, Alaska. In 2007, at his retirement, he was named emeritus professor of chemistry. He served as a guest preacher at many churches in South and West Texas. He and his wife taught Sunday school classes for young married couples and were involved deeply with the students at Wayland, mentoring them and hosting them at their home. Temple also was involved with foreign missions and befriended Southern Baptist missionaries throughout the world. He was a member of the Hi-Plains Gem and Mineral Society and loved searching for rocks, arrowheads, gems and minerals. He was an active member of the Lion’s Club for many years and volunteered with Meals on Wheels in Plainview. He was preceded in death by his brother Herman Temple and his sister Opal Zamzow. He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Audrey Temple; daughter Joli Temple Storm and her husband Greg; son Ladd Temple and his wife Robin; seven grandchildren; and one great-granddaughter. A celebration of life is scheduled at 10 a.m. on Feb. 15 at Harral Memorial Auditorium on the Wayland Baptist University campus in Plainview. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts can be made to the Harold and Audrey Temple Endowed Scholarship at Wayland Baptist University.
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