- journal_title：AAPG Bulletin
- Contributor：Ralph W. Edie
- Publisher：American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG)
- Date：1997-
- Format：text/html
- Language：en
- journal_abbrev：AAPG Bulletin
- issn：0149-1423
- volume：81
- issue：9
- firstpage：1538
- section：Articles
Charles Wheeler Templeton, "Charlie," passed away in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, August 12, 1996. Charlie was born to Arthur and Doris Templeton, July 15, 1922, in Calgary. His father was a bank manager with the Canadian Bank of Commerce and the family moved frequently. Charlie attended public school at Hanna and Olds, Alberta, followed by high school in Calgary and then in Edmonton. From September 1940 to May 1942, Charlie attended the University of Alberta, Edmonton, interrupting his studies from 1942 to 1945 to serve as a flying instructor with the Royal Canadian Air Force. In September 1945, Charlie resumed studies at the University of Alberta, where he met geology student colleague Vivian Suey, whom he married December 31, 1948. Charlie commenced his geological career as a student engaged in geological mapping and prospecting for gold for Frobisher Exploration Company at Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, during the summers of 1946 and 1947. Many of his associates on those field parties, including James "Jim" Mallabone, Clarence "Red" Anderson, Albert "Moose" Manifold, and Bruce Tiffin, remained Charlie's close lifelong friends. Upon graduation with a B.Sc. degree from the University of Alberta in May 1948, Charlie joined Texaco Exploration as a petroleum geologist in Edmonton under the supervision of Gordon Killick. In early 1951, Charlie moved to Calgary to become staff geologist at Bay Petroleums. In January 1952, Charlie became chief geologist for Technical Oil Consultants Ltd. in Calgary. That consulting company was a management team for several of Joseph H. Hirshhorn's companies, including Prado Oil and Gas, B.C. Oil Lands, and Prairie Oil Royalties. According to Thelma Crozier, then secretary for Technical Oil Consultants, Charlie experienced early success for Prado Oil and Gas in July 1952 with discovery and later development of the Cretaceous Chauvin oil field (21.6 degrees API oil) in east-central Alberta. In 1959, the field had estimated oil in place of 29 million barrels. In 1958, Morris Palmer, president of Can-American Drilling Company, merged some of his companies, including Devon Leduc, with Prado Oil and Gas to form Devon Palmer Oils Limited, and Charlie became exploration manager for Devon Palmer with offices in both Calgary and Regina, Saskatchewan. At that time, Charlie hired Mike Tomilin as regional geologist for the Regina office, and according to Tomilin, Devon Palmer was very successful in oil field development drilling in the Midale and Weyburn areas of Saskatchewan. Charlie continued as exploration manager for Devon Palmer until 1965. In 1967, after two years as a consulting geologist in Calgary, Moe Rekunyk hired Charlie as exploration manager for Provident Resources Ltd., its successor company Canadian Merrill Ltd., and Colonial Oil and Gas Ltd. Charlie worked full-time for these companies until about 1985. As a result of Charlie's detailed geological mapping, Provident, Canadian Merrill, and Colonial discovered and developed more than 200 Bcf of Cretaceous gas in the Warwick, Plain Lake, Vegreville, Stanmore, and Edwand areas of east-central Alberta. Charlie was a member of the Canadian Society of Petroleum Geologists, AAPG, and the Association of Professional Engineers, Geologists and Geophysicists of Alberta. For many years, Charlie served as a volunteer youth leader in Calgary. He was a Scout Master and also taught and organized children's soccer, both in his community and in citywide leagues. Charlie loved outdoor activities. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, and gardening, and he excelled at badminton and golf. At the celebration of Charlie's life in Calgary, geologist Arnold "Arnie" Choquette, a long-time golf associate of Charlie's, said: "In winning at golf, Charlie was always a perfect gentleman. In fact, after Charlie had reminded the loser of all his good golf shots, the loser was apt to think he had won." Charles Templeton was a highly intelligent and successful petroleum geologist. He was an honest, kind, generous, humble, and compassionate person. He loved people and had a delightful sense of humor. He brought joy to numerous people and had a cheerful, optimistic outlook on life, even when faced with very serious health problems. Thankfully, happy memories of Charlie live on in the hearts and minds of all who knew him. Charlie is survived by his wife, Vivian; four children, Brian Templeton (and wife Lorraine), Shawna (and husband Steve Raymond), and Andy and Keith Templeton; four grandchildren, Chantal and Matthew Templeton and Angela and Christopher Raymond; and one sister, Kathleen (and husband David Clyde). I thank John M. Andrichuk, Oscar A. Erdman, and Vivian Templeton for assistance in editing this memorial.