Dwight Albert Templeton, 94, of Sweet Home passed away Thursday. He was born near Cashmere, Washington to Raleigh Albert and Hallie Hazle (Pearl) Templeton.

His family moved back to the Brownsville area in 1918. Dwight started school in Halsey in 1922 and graduated from Lowell High School in 1934.

Dwight worked in the Lowell, Horton, and Triangle Lake areas at the lathe mill. He did various lumber jobs, including falling trees, lathe mill work, log truck driving, and steam donkey operation. In July 1941, he moved to Sweet Home and worked for Paul Hutchins logging up the middle Santiam River. He found the logging industry most interesting and spent many long years doing it.

Dwight enlisted and served in the U.S. Navy from 1942 to 1945. He was trained and awarded the rating of Machinist Mate First Class.

Dwight also worked in Long Beach, California for Southern Cal Gas, and then returned to Sweet Home in 1948 to work for several lumber companies. Dwight purchased the Union Oil Gas Station at 12th and Main in 1961 and operated it until 1964. He went to work for many independent logging companies as a yarder operator in Sweet Home through 1979.

Dwight enjoyed camping and boating from Memorial Day through Labor Day with his family in a sailboat he designed and built for all to enjoy. He was an avid whittler of wood and created many small chains and tool replicas in wood. Dwight built multiple small steam engines.

He is survived by: his children, Gordon and Diane Templeton, Lois and Paul Folz, and Lesli and Doug Lampe; step-children,Virgil and his wife Laurie Zook, Debra and her husband Richard Bowler, Vernon Zook, and Lisa and her husband Terry Macklin; sister, Pearl Marie Wheeler; 25 grandchildren and 17 great grandchildren.

Dwight was preceded in death by his wife, Frances, and his sister, Margaret Breuer.

Memorial services will be held at 1:00 PM Wednesday, December 22, at Sweet Home Funeral Chapel. Military honors will take place following the service at Gilliland Cemetery.

Memorial contributions in memory of Dwight and Frances Templeton can be sent to the Sweet Home Senior Center or to Manna Free Meal Program c/o SHEM – Manna. Donations can be sent to Sweet Home Funeral Chapel 1443 Long St. Sweet Home, OR 97386.

Arrangements are under the direction of Sweet Home Funeral Chapel.