Temple Dickinson
March 13, 1956 ~ January 29, 2019
William Temple Dickinson, 62, Glasgow, passed away suddenly Tuesday, January 29, 2019, at the T. J. Samson Community Hospital. Born in Glasgow, he was a son of the late Dr. Lewis Dickinson and Selma Goodman Dickinson.
While dedicating himself to the many facets of his life, Temple has maintained his lifelong interest in theatre and service to others. He was an Eagle Scout and a 1974 graduate of Glasgow High School where he was also a member of the Glasgow Scottie Band. He went on to graduate Transylvania University in 1978 and Harvard Law School in 1984, where he also was deeply involved with the Harvard Drama Society. After graduation, he joined a private law firm in Boston where he specialized in white collar crime defense and then later moved to the Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office.
After returning to Glasgow, Temple was highly involved in community affairs while maintaining his law practice. He was a member of the Kiwanis and Rotary Clubs; he helped initiate the beginning of the local soup kitchen; and he was a dedicated member of the Far Off Broadway Players, both acting and directing productions. He had served as Chief of Staff to the Majority Whip of the Kentucky House of Representatives and was presently serving as Master Commissioner for Barren County.
Temple was a lifelong member of the First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) where he also served as Elder and Sunday School Teacher.
Survivors include his wife Jan Marie Wussow Dickinson; his son, Benjamin Temple Dickinson; two brothers: Dr. L. G. Dickinson and wife Sherry, and Jake Dickinson and wife Pat; one sister, Jeanne Dickinson White and husband John; five nieces and nephews: Jefferson Dickinson, Kathy Glass, John Martin Dickinson, Paul White, and Lucy White Carlson.
Funeral services will be held 2:00 p.m. Sunday, February 10, 2019, at the First Christian Church with burial in the Glasgow Municipal Cemetery. Visitation will be from 3 to 8 p.m. Saturday, February 9, at the Hatcher & Saddler Funeral Home and after 1 p.m. on Sunday at the church.
Alternate expressions of sympathy may take the form of donations to the Ralph Bunche Community Soup Kitchen or to Glasgow Rotary Scout Foundation. Envelopes will be available at the funeral home.
Our community and justice system Will never be the same. Our hearts are full of love and prayers to the Dickinson family.
The Flener Family
Jan and Benjamin, oUr thoughts and prayers are with you and the family.
So sorry to hear this. Temple was the one person that got my sarcastic humor with one eyebrow raised. I enjoyed working in the court system with him. Prayers for you Jan and Benjamin.
My family and i considered Temple as a dear friend, a good man, and an asset to the community as well as the justice system. Our condolences to Jan and Benjamin. Temple was one of a kind. He will be missed.
thoughts anrd prayers going out to temples family he was a great man rip temple
Shocked to hear this terrible news, My heart and prayers to his wife Jan and son Benjamin, and his family. His dad always gave free medical exams for the Boy Scouts, and Temple was a Scout when I met him, A great sense of Humor and just a fantastic family. Temple will be sorely missed by all who have crossed his path. So sorry to hear this……
The David Bastien Family, Jonas, Juliana & Isabella
I lost a friend on Tuesday, but more importantly, the community and the world lost a giant. Temple Dickinson was a giant of a man in many ways. He was compassionate; he was warm; he was brilliant; he was funny and he was very witty.
I first met Temple and Jan about twenty years ago when I moved to Glasgow and I am honored to call them my friends. We didn’t really have anything in common, but we meshed very well. He was just a tremendously likable guy.
I remember going somewhere with him; he was driving, and I said to him, “Temple, I don’t know what has happened to me. Here I am, a died in the wool conservative Republican riding around with an uber liberal, Harvard educated attorney, in a Volvo wagon and listening to NPR, of all things, and I’m still enjoying it”. He told me that there may still be hope for me. I was thinking the same thing about him.
Over those twenty years I had many opportunities to engage his professional services. I used to say he was the Columbo of the Courtroom. I would be waiting for him outside a courtroom and see him walking down the hallway. Invariably, his tie was askew, often times his shirt tail was out. I once wondered if the people in the courtroom wondered why the janitor had a tie on. But once in the Courtroom, the man was brilliant. In more than a dozen instances, I never walked out of a courtroom or his office with him at my side without him having gained the result we wanted. He was my Perry Mason, the biggest gun in the gunfight and he always persevered. He was truly a gifted attorney.
But perhaps the greatest thing about him was his warmth. He cared deeply. Not that he was above throwing out a zinger if the opportunity would arise. More than once I would be sitting across from him in his office and we would be discussing whatever legal matter had brought me there and he would somehow tie it to the fact that I was a Republican. In the midst of his lawyerly dissertation, he would just slip it in there and look up at me and grin. And most of the time, it was just so funny that I couldn’t bring myself to tell him how misguided he was.
And now he is gone far too early. I won’t run into him at the post office or anywhere else and share a minute or two; most often a smile and be glad that I know him and that he is in my life. But the gift he left me is the fond memories and the warmth in my heart just thinking about him. I am sure that the world is a better place because Temple walked through it, because I know that mine certainly is.
Rest in Peace, my dear friend.
We are so very sorry for your loss (and our city/county’s loss). All of you will be in our prayers.
To Jake and family, please accept my sincere condolences and prayers as you go through this difficult time. I am so sorry for your loss. [class of 67 Jeanne Wallace Garrett]
Jan, Benjamin, LG & Sherry, Jake & Pat, Jeanne & John and all the rest of the family,
I was shocked and saddened when Bill notified me that Temple had passed so suddenly. It was always a pleasure to talk with him at family gatherings and church events. Was recalling with Bill recently about a play we saw at WKU that Temple had (I believe) written, directed and acted. It was my honor to be his cousin by marriage for 22 years. Please know I have not forgotten any of you. Hugs and prayers to all of you.
Mona
So sorry Jake for the loss of your brother. Prayers for you & your family.
We are deeply sorry for the loss of this fine man. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and close friends.
Jake and Louie we are so sorry for your loss and send our prayers to you.
Sorry for your loss
He was a great man among men he fight for us hard
In court never gave up He was truly Awasome but most of all he was a gentleman kind
Always was a call away when u needed him
Our Prayers and thoughts go out to Wife and son
And all his friends May God Bring You Peace
God Bless
So sorry to hear of your loss Jake. My prayers are with you and the rest of your family! Sincere condolences.
Jan and Family, So sorry for your loss. Temple was always there for us for whatever our legal need was. He will be truly missed. I pray that you find peace knowing he is now in God’s hands. Temple was a very caring person. I will pray for you all. Sincerely, Arline Barr
I am so very sorry to hear of Temple’s passing. What a monumental loss to his family, friends and the community. John Day and family, you will be in my thoughts and prayers.
Jennie Leech
Sending our deepest condolences to Temple’s family and so very sorry for your loss and so suddenly.
Hopefully you will experience Gods presence at this time in your lives. John 14:27.
Mel and Bettie Crosson
I was Temple’s classmate at Transylvania. He was always the smartest guy in the class, but always humble and kind. Jan and family, I haven’t had the pleasure of meeting you, but I greatly admired Temple. My deepest sympathy to you and yours. I will keep you in my prayers. May God comfort you and give you peace during this time of mourning and always.
Temple was the eccentric, witty and charming curmudgeon who made every social
or school event more interesting. He was such a character – he made our small town much more interesting. I loved being behind him in the school drop-off line to see what would fall out of his car when Benjamin alighted. My husband hated being behind him in said line because he knew that meant he was tardier than usual. Jan and Benjamin are among our favorite people – our family will hold them close to our hearts as they heal.
Prayers for you and Benjamin. Will keep the family in my thoughts and prayers.