Leonard J. Temple; Heavy Equipment Instructor

Leonard James Temple of Ventura, a retired heavy equipment instructor, died Thursday in a Ventura convalescent hospital after a long illness. He was 84.

Temple was born May 5, 1912, in Independence, Mo. He lived in Ventura County for 52 years.

For 25 years, Temple taught heavy equipment operation at the Naval Engineering Laboratory at Port Hueneme.

He was a Master Mason for 51 years and was a member of San Buenaventura Lodge 214, Free & Accepted Masons. Temple was also a member of the Ventura County Scottish Rite and the Al Malaikah Shrine, Los Angeles Temple, and the First Baptist Church of Ventura.

“He enjoyed doing everything,” said his wife of seven years, Addie Lou Temple. “He played golf and enjoyed all sporting events.”

“We did odds and ends together and we enjoyed going places together,” she said.

In addition to his wife, Temple is survived by daughters Barbara Jean Smith of Diamond Bar, Joyce Ann Martin of Camarillo and Mary Helen Hansen of Lompoc; seven grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Ted Mayr Funeral Home, Ventura. Services will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday at the funeral home.

Interment will be in Ivy Lawn Memorial Park, Ventura, next to Beatrice Lorene Temple, Leonard Temple’s wife of 50 years.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Los Angeles Unit, Shriners Hospital for Children, 3160 Geneva St., Los Angeles 90020.