Martha Dee Templeton's Obituary
Templeton, Martha went to be with her Lord and Savior on June 20, 2013. She was affectionally called Marty, Martha Dee, or Marney to family and friends. She was born on November 13, 1921 in Pine Bluff, Arkansas to Clifford Charles and Clara Magdalene Oberly McGee. She was preceded in death by her parents and her husband, Ralph Clifton Templeton Jr., as well as her 6 siblings, Lillian Ruth Murray, Beatrice Cicero, Brown L. McGee, James H. McGee, Charles McGee, and Louis C. McGee. She is survived by son and daughter-in-law, Tres and Cheryl Templeton; daughter and son-in-law, Laura and Ric Pipkin; and four grandchildren, Taylor Pipkin and wife, Sarahbeth, Natalie Pipkin, Thomas Pipkin, and Caleb Templeton. Martha grew up in Stuttgart, Arkansas and later went to high school in Little Rock. This is where she met and married the love of her life, Ralph Templeton Jr. They started dating at age 16. He pulled a ribbon from her hair during school and proposed to her in a love note that same day. They lived in Arkansas, Florida, and California before settling in Dallas to raise their 2 children. She became a widow in 1983. The way she invested her time after that reflects her integrity, her spirit and heart. Besides spending time with her four beloved grandchildren, she joined book clubs, traveled with dear friends, volunteered at the Scottish Rite Hospital for Children, Lovers Lane United Methodist Church, neighborhood Volunteers in Patrol, and the American Foundation for the Blind to name a few. She was generous with her resources and her time was one of them. Those who knew her can testify to her gift for encouragement and how continually focused on others she was. She loved the State Fair, estate sales, bargains, pimento cheese, shopping at Northpark, bacon and eggs, and gadgets, and talking on the phone! Her famous greeting was “Hi, Darlin!” It was very hard to resist Martha’s charms. She was a human sparkler and an inspiration- we will all miss her terribly. Her legacy will be remembered and carried on at Marney’s House Orphanage in Zambia. To learn more, visit www.familylegacy.com/marneyshouse. There will be a visitation at Restland Funeral Home on Monday, June 24, 2013 from 6:00-8:00 PM. A memorial service will be held at Lovers Lane United Methodist Church, Dallas, Texas, on June 25, 2013 at 1:00 PM. Memorials may be made to Scottish Rite Hospital for Children, 2222 Welborn Street, Dallas, Texas 75219 and Lovers Lane United Methodist Church, 9200 Inwood Road, Dallas, Tx. 75220
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