William "Pete" Peterson Temple's Obituary
Pete was born in Pendleton, Oregon where he attended Pendleton High School graduating in 1953. In recent years he enjoyed attending class reunions and catching up with old friends. He graduated from Linfield College in McMinnville, Oregon in 1959 with a bachelor's in Chemistry and minor in Psychiatric studies.
After graduating he found employment at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Portland, Oregon. He worked as a medical technician/engineer in cardiopulmonary research. He was drafted into the army shortly after and spent his basic training at Fort Ord, CA. Pete was excused from active duty because his skill set made him more valuable at the VA assisting doctors with their research. He worked closely with James F. Morris, MD and they co-authored numerous scientific works on pulmonary functions and statistics. Much of they're work was lifesaving and led to procedures or treatments that continue to help people today. Pete built the educational lung machine which compared lung function between healthy and smokers lungs, it resided at the old Oregon Museum of Science and Industry building.
Pete was a devoted husband and father. He loved fishing and his dogs. The family started raising show dogs in the 70's and showed and bred many champion Bloodhounds and Labrador Retrievers. Many of his Bloodhounds were also trained search and rescue dogs. He and his Bloodhound, Rowdy, had many successful searches and commendations for work finding fugitives and lost people. Pete was very proud that Rowdy also produced successful search dogs. Rowdy also became a living mascot for the Portland Police as "Rowdy" McGruff in their children's outreach program. Pete took interest in his daughters Dachshunds and became a field trial judge for Dachshunds and Basset Hounds. He built equipment for a reproductive specialist with his work including show dogs and zoo animals across the world.
Pete married the love of his life, Nancy Gail Hogan (9-13-1935 - 1-7-2018), on September 2,1960. He is survived by his three children, Theresa Temple and husband Robert Shaw, Christopher Temple, Molly Schaefer and husband Rick Grimm. Also, grandchildren, Kelly Temple and Joshua Temple, and sisters, Penelope Temple French, Marcia Lefevre and husband Tom Lefevre and Marilyn Murray.
Services will be held at Columbia Funeral Home in St Helens, Oregon on October 30th at noon.
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