William Samuel Temple

May 11, 2023

CHARLOTTE – William Samuel (Sam) Temple, 89, of Matthews, NC died Thursday, May 11, 2023.  He was born on January 6, 1934, in Hildebran, NC to the late Edger Samuel Temple and Madge Sigmon Temple.

Sam grew up in Salisbury, NC.  He received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Mathematics and French from Lenoir-Rhyne College and a Masters in Education from UNC-Chapel Hill (NSF Institute).  He participated in an NSF Summer Institute for math at Duke University.  He spent forty-one years teaching mathematics - nine in high schools in Gaston, Rowan, and Mecklenburg Counties and thirty-two at Central Piedmont Community College.  Sam had many pleasant memories of students and colleagues with whom he worked.  He was very proud of those students known to him that pursued careers as math teachers, engineers, or other professions utilizing mathematics.  Sam enjoyed working with adults of all ages, backgrounds, and nationalities.

God, family, and country were of primary importance to him.  He was a lifetime Lutheran, formerly at St. John's Lutheran Church in Salisbury, and St. Mark's Lutheran Church in Charlotte, NC.  Sam attended Christ Lutheran in Charlotte. Church music had always been special to him.

Sam is survived by his wife, Nanette Aderholdt Temple; daughters, Lisa T. Pierce and her husband, Keith, and Dana T. Byron and her husband, Bill; grandchildren, Kathryn Byron, Nathalie Valverde, William Byron, Jr. and Sebastian Valverde, and sister, Sylvia Boyd and her husband, Press. He was predeceased by his brother, Paul and sister, Elaine Adair.

A memorial service will be held at 1:00 PM on Friday, May 26, 2023, at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church.  The family will receive friends following the service at the church.

Memorials may be offered in memory of Sam to St. Mark's Lutheran Church, 1001 Queens Road., Charlotte, NC 28207 or Christ Lutheran Church, 4519 Providence Road, Charlotte, NC 28226 or Lenoir-Rhyne University, 625 7th Avenue NE, Hickory, NC, 28601.

Arrangements are in the care of Kenneth W. Poe Funeral & Cremation Service, 1321 Berkeley Ave., Charlotte, NC 28204; (704) 641-7606. Online condolences may be shared at www.kennethpoeservices.com.

Share your memories & condolences

Comments

  • Dr. Bob Morgan

    Sam Temple was one of my very best friends at Lenoir Rhyne College (now Lenoir-Rhyne University). We were students there from 1952-1956. He was my roommate for our junior and senior years. We both double majored in Mathematic and French. Our senior year Sam was President of the Class of 1956; I was the Vice President of our graduating class.

    Sam Temple is one of the finest men I have ever known. I count it a gift from God that he was not only one of my best friends but also my roommate for two years.