Norma Murphy Templeman

Born, August 21st, 1925 in Long Beach, California

Died January 29th, 2014 in Seattle Washington

Member Phi Mu sorority

University of Washington BS Chemistry 1947

Married James M. Templeman on August 21st, 1948 in Seattle Washington

Children: Michael L. Templeman (1950), Patricia A. Templeman (1960)

Grandchildren: LeeAnne Templeman, John Templeman, Olivia Butler

Norma Templeman was an undergraduate in Chemistry when she met James Templeman, a WWII veteran who had returned to the University of Washington to earn his Master’s degree in Physics. After a 17 month engagement, Norma and Jim were married on August 21st, 1948 in Seattle. After Jim had earned his Masters in Physics, he returned to the US Army as a lieutenant and they moved to Ft. Monmouth, New Jersey where she had her first child, Michael Templeman.

As a military wife, Norma lived in Japan after the Korean war. She traveled to Japan on a converted troop carrier that was taking dependents to join their husbands and fathers. Leaving Japan, Norma traveled to Arlington, Virginia where she lived for 18 months. After that duty, Jim was transferred to Ft. Lewis, Washington so the family packed up a car and drove across the USA. While at Ft. Lewis, Norma took the opportunity to learn to fly and earned her private pilot’s license. Forever after, Norma believed that driving at less than 70 miles per hour was below the car’s stall speed. After Ft. Lewis, Jim was transferred to Pirmasens, Germany which was quickly followed by transfers to Kaiserlautern (K-town to the Americans) and Vicenza, Italy. In Vicenza, Jim was the commander of the 560th Signal Battalion, which made Norma the commander’s wife and responsible for helping out the other military wives.

While in Germany, Norma had her second child, Patricia(“PK”) Ann Templeman. Patricia was born at the US Army Hospital in Lanstuhl, Germany. Pat was not to set foot on US soil for the first two and a half years of her life while Norma moved between Germany and Italy.

Upon return to the USA, Norma moved constantly from Virginia Beach to Washington DC to New Jersey following Jim’s various duty assignments while raising two children and doing duties as a military wife. When Jim was sent to Vietnam, Norma moved to Washington DC where she lived until he safely returned home in 1968.

In 1970, Norma moved back to Germany where Jim took command of the 7th Signal Brigade. While in Germany this time, Norma was able to purchase a car better suto the autobahns—a Ford Capri—which could keep up with the Mercedes, Porshes, BMWs, and Citroens. Of course, while exploring Europe, Norma proceeded to blow up the engine of the VW she had purchased upon arriving in Germany. Norma also learned, during this period, how to keep news of all her traffic tickets from Jim.

Norma returned to Germany one last time when Jim was assigned commander of the 1st Support Brigade. Norma lived in Kaiserslautern and Worms one last time during Jim’s duty there. Fasching would never be the same. After that, Norma and Jim returned to Washington DC for Jim’s last assignment, military chief of the US Military World Wide Military Command and Control System.

Upon Jim’s retirement from the Army in 1978, Norma and Jim moved to Seattle, where they lived until Norma’s passing in 2014. While in Seattle, Norma and Jim become strong supporters of the Pacific Northwest Ballet and held season tickets for many years until they could no longer attend. Norma and Jim traveled extensively during their retirement to China, Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, Belize, Mexico, and Guatemala. They also explored the Puget Sound extensively by boat, spending time in the San Juan Islands as well as Canadian waters.

Norma is survived by her husband, Brig. Gen. James M. Templeman(ret), her children, Patricia and Michael Templeman, and her grandchildren, LeeAnne Templeman, John Templeman, and Olivia Butler. In accordance with Norma’s wishes, there will be no service or visitation. An Irish Wake will be held, by invitation, on February 8th, 2014.