Dr. Lucinda De Leftwich Templin, principal of Radford School for Girls for 40 years and one of El Paso's best-loved and most distinguished educators, died today at Southwestern General Hospital. She had been ill since her retirement in 1967.

The school for which she worked so many years was closed and students released from classes as soon as her death was reported. Generations of El Paso's "first families" pay tribute to Dr. Templin for the exemplary education given their daughters through her many years at Radford.

Dr. Templin was born before the turn of the century in Nevada, Mo., daughter of William & Ella Rice Templin. She attended the University of Missouri, where she received her A.B. and B.S. degrees in 1914 and her master's degree in 1916.
That same year she became Dean of Lindenwood College in St. Charles, Mo., and served in that capacity until 1924.

She then did graduate work at Harvard and Columbia Universities, and was a research scholar in 1924-25. She received her doctorate degree in 1926.

She took over as principal at Radford School in 1927. At that time the school, which was founded in 1910 by a group of El Paso businessmen, was called El Paso School for Girls . The staff consisted of 17 teachers and there was a mortga ge of $45,000 on the school. Dr. Templin interested her friends, Mr. and Mrs. G. A. Radford of Webster Grove, Mo., in the school and the couple took over the indebted school, paid off the mortgage, and provided an endowment fund that insured the institution's stability. In 1931 the name of the school was changed in honor of the benefactors.

During Dr. Templin's administration, Radford School grew in to a nationally accredited school for girls in the Southwest. When she retired, the 22-acre campus had more than $1,00 0,000 in physical improvements, and was debt-free. Dr. Templin had also completed plans for construction of a $400,000 library and museum on property owned by the school.

Famed for her straight-to-the-point philosophy, Dr. Templin once said: "There is not short cut to education. You have to earn what you get. Education is training in "how to think, to work, to study." Education can never be made a pleasant diversion. It is hardwork."

A member of the nation's leading educational organizations and honorary societies, Dr. Templin was named consistentl y to "Who's Who in America," and to "Who's Who in American Education." In November, 1965, she was inducted into the Hall of Honor of the El Paso County Historical Society.

She was deeply interested in history and her collection of museum items was of wide interest throughout the Southwest. She was also the author of numerous publications, most of which concerned the field of education.

Funeral services are pending.

RITED FOR DR. TEMPLIN TO BE HELD IN ILLINOIS

Funeral services for Dr. Lucinda De Leftwich Templin, former Radford School for Girls principal who died yesterday, will be held in Alton, Ill., with burial there.

Through tomorrow her body will lie in state at Harding-Orr & McDaniel Montana Avenue Funeral Home.

Death came to the noted educator after an extended illness . She as 79. Dr. Templin had been a resident of El Paso 4 2 years. Only Survivor is a brother, Dr. Roger P. Templin o f Alton.

Memorial contributions may be made to Radford School for Girls.