Willie Lee Templeton Sr. of Powell, Ohio was called home to be with the Lord on November 14, 2024. Willie was born December 15, 1945, in Akron, Ohio to Herman Templeton Sr. and Emma J. Templeton. Willie attended South High School (Class of ’63) and retired from Chrysler Corporation in 1993.

“Brother Willie”, as he was affectionately known, was a faithful member of the Prayer Tower/Tower of Prayer Church of God in Christ from 1969 to 1993. With the blessing of his Pastor, Elder Templeton went to assist his older brother in ministry at Thompson Memorial Church of God in Christ (COGIC), and later became the Pastor of H. Templeton Ministries COGIC in 2011. Pastor Willie served as Senior Pastor until he retired in 2020.

Willie married his bride Kathy of 48 years on June 1, 1976. Together, they chose the Lord, blended their families, and were committed to loving each other until death did them part. Wille and Kathy lived in Powell, Ohio where Willie was known for walking and waving the peace sign at cars passing by him. This small act of kindness caused him to be recognized in his community as the “Waving Walker.” People of all ages were excited to see him, honking their horns, enthusiastically waving back, yelling out the window, or even stopping in traffic for a quick curb side chat. School buses full of children were excited to see him in the morning, and preschools invited him in to enforce their lessons on kindness.

Willie is preceded in death by his father, Herman Templeton Sr., his mother Emma Templeton, brothers George Templeton and Herman Templeton Jr., sisters: Teletha, Teresa, Naomi Ruth, Alice Marie, Parlee, Hazel, and Norma, son David, and grandchildren Michelle, Amber and Kevin.

Willie will be lovingly remembered by his wife Kathy, his children Willie Jr. (Donna) of Miamisburg, Ohio, Susie Templeton – Brown (Robert) of Akron, Ohio, James of Columbus, Ohio, Nikol of Powell, Ohio, Matthew, Aaron both of Houston, TX, Michael of Minneapolis, MN, Anthony of Rock Hill, SC; Kaisha of Cape Coral, FL; Tasha of Powell, Ohio; and Roberta of Dublin, Ohio; his brothers Johnny Templeton (Corrine) of Akron, OH and Alfred (Charlene) of Columbus, OH; and sister-cousin Ida Bradford of Akron, OH; and a host of grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, god children, family and friends.