Helen Templeton

1933 - 2021

Helen Templeton
August 2, 1933 - November 15, 2021
Fresno, California - After a long full, happy, and adventurous life filled with friends, pets, family and travel, Helen Louise Templeton passed on November 15th due to complications of breast cancer.
She was born and raised in Arkansas City, KS on August 2nd, 1933, to Louis and Velda Gochis. Helen graduated from Kansas State University where she was a member of the Tri Delta sorority and moved to San Francisco to work as a medical technician.
After 3 years of working in San Francisco she and two co-workers traveled to Sydney, Australia for a 2 week vacation and liked it so much she stayed for a year forsaking her car, an apartment, and a job in San Francisco. Then Helen and one of her co-workers decided to travel around the world. During her travels she met her husband to be Tom Templeton who was stationed in Heidelberg with the US Air Force. Helen returned to the United States 2 years after she left for her 2-week vacation. She and Tom were married and spent 49 years traveling the world including all 7 continents. Part of her adventurous life included living in Taipei, Taiwan for 7 years.
Pets were always a huge part of her life and Helen adored all the dogs she parented. Helen had a grand passion for all animals and spent 50 years as a docent at the Fresno Chaffee Zoo. She was a founding member of the Zoolynx volunteer docent program. She also loved playing mahjong. Some of her more memorable trips were her 9 African Safaris.
Helen was preceded in death by her husband and best friend Tom in 2012. She is survived by her brother Bill Gochis and his wife Bobbie of Overland Park, KS. and nephews Mike, Rich and Dave Gochis and their families, Judy Shehadey (sister-in-law) of Fresno, Jim and Earleen Templeton (Brother-in-law and wife), of Clovis, John Templeton (brother-in-law) of Prather, Rick Templeton (brother-in-law) of Fresno, and her many nephews, nieces, and great nephews and nieces.
The family and close friends will have a private celebration of life. Remembrances or a donation may be sent to Fresno Chaffee Zoo or to your favorite no-kill animal shelter in Remembrance of Helen. Burial will be in a family plot in Arkansas City, Kansas.