Robert E. Temple

PRINCETON/STERLING - Robert E. Temple, 72, died on Monday, September 4, 2023, after a brief but valiant battle with cancer. He was born in Clinton to the late Raymond F. and Janet E. Temple and was a life-long resident of Sterling before moving to Princeton in 2011.

Bob worked for the Sterling DPW for 42 years with a 2-year break to serve his country in Vietnam when he was drafted into the Army.

He loved his job with the DPW with his favorite times being plowing snow for hours on end living on Slim Jims and bottles of Coke. He also loved producing blue ribbon hay for Oscar and Helen Lamarche on their Sunnyside Farm on North Row Rd.

Bob was a member of the Sterling Fire Department for more than 30 years and enjoyed participating in the Wachusett Firemen's Muster for many years, always driving that beautiful truck!

He joined the Hiram O. Taylor American Legion Post 189 in 1972 shortly after returning home from Vietnam and received his 50-year continuous membership certificate in 2022. He also received the "Legionnaire of the Year" Award in 2022. He held various positions within Post 189 and served as Worcester County Commander of District 4 of the American Legion in 1997-98 as his father Raymond (1953-54) and brother Don (1981-82) did before him. He was also a member of the Voiture Old 300 Forty and Eight and served many roles and many years in their organization.

His years in the Legion were very active ones, filled with Memorial Day and Veterans' Day parades, the Avenue of Flags, fundraising ham dinners, fundraising for many hours at Walmart (perhaps flashing his patriotic artificial legs to get a "little more" of a donation from someone), meat raffles, promoting the Legion at the Sterling Fair, and collecting from the community for Holidays for Veterans.

He was instrumental in forming a collaboration with Project Warm-up, a non-profit organization started by Isaiah French, a member of the Sons of the American Legion, to serve homeless Veterans in Boston, and expanding to all of Massachusetts and New England.

Bob could be found holding court at the Legion Hall any day of the week. His commitment to serving his fellow Veterans only became stronger after retiring from the DPW, even while dealing with his own health challenges. His most recent efforts involved "Clear Path for Veterans New England" in Devens, MA.

"The Fatman" always had a smile and a positive greeting for everyone, and his easygoing disposition endeared him to many. He will truly be missed by his family, his Legion Family, his Forty and Eight Family and many friends.

Bob is survived by his wife Cindy (Carlson) Temple, daughter Samantha, son Elliott (Nicole) and granddaughter Haleigh, all of Princeton, brother Earl W. Temple (Debbie) and sisters Barbara DeStefano, Marjorie Johnson and Beverly Temple, sister-in-law Jeanette Temple and several nieces and nephews. He is predeceased by his parents, his brothers Donald Temple and James Temple and brother-in-law Jeffrey Johnson.

Relatives and friends are invited to visit with Bob's family from 4 to 7 pm on Wednesday, September 13 in the Miles-Sterling Funeral and Tribute Center, 100 Worcester Road, Sterling. A Funeral service will be held at 11 am on Thursday, September 14 at the First Church in Sterling, 6 Meetinghouse Hill Road. Burial with military honors will follow at the Hillside Cemetery in Sterling.

Donations may be made to the Hiram O. Taylor Post 189 American Legion, PO Box 245 Sterling, MA 01564, or Project Warm-up, 32 Cortland Drive Stow, MA 01775.

To share a memory or offer an online condolence, please visit Bob's Tribute Wall on this page.