Obituary of James Robert Talbert

James Robert Talbert Sr. (Bob) Born 15, January 1930 – Passes away 30, October 2016 Son of George C and Elizabeth Talbert, preceded in death by his wife Nancy Talbert and daughter Kathleen Ann. Survived by four children with Nancy; Robin, James, Nancy, and Jeff, Nine grandchildren, Nine great grandchildren, Brothers George, Dick, sister Betty, and wife Phyllis Sanfilippo. Bob will be laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery on Monday, March 6th at 2pm. Please meet at the Admin building at Arlington by 1:30. After the services, we will be having a remembrance at Irelands Four Courts from 3-6pm. Address 2051 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington VA 222201 (703) 525-3600. Both are accessible via the Metro, Arlington Cemetery (Blue Line – Arlington National Cemetery), Irelands Four Courts (Orange/Silver – Clarendon) A story about who Bob was by Son in law Michael Bailey Bob was a man that most men would aspire to become, he was a person that unselfishly gave himself to his family, his friends, his career, and his country. I had the great pleasure of meeting Bob 28 years ago. These are the things I learned about his life through our conversations. Bob grew up with his brothers and sister in Washington, D.C. with nearly nothing during the great depression. I remember a picture he used to show me from time to time of a man in a suit standing next to him while he was sitting on a fence. Bob’s clothes were torn and dingy. I think Bob would show me this picture, not just to show me, but to also remind him of how blessed he was throughout his life. This may sound funny to most, but I enjoyed listening to him talk about himself and his accomplishments. He was a proud man and rightly so. He served in the U.S. Navy as a radioman aboard a submarine seeking ship. He ranked up to Seaman First Class. He often tried to get me to understand Morse code, something I could never catch on to, although I can still hear him doing code with his voice. After the service, he started working in Washington D.C. as a Fireman. It takes a very special person to be a fireman. I heard many stories of how he saved lives, how he was not able to save lives, and having to be saved, himself, while fighting a fire. Bob, in my eyes was a true hero. Through his accomplishments and hard work, he retired with the title of Battalion Fire Chief. The memories I have of him are great ones. I look back at the holidays, Bob had traditions, something I never grew up with. Trains around the Christmas tree, setting up a huge Thomas Kincade Village every year for his wife Nancy, cold cuts from a special deli in D.C., he took me to one time, I still can’t find it, then having friends and neighbors over to enjoy every moment. In my eyes Bob loved to see joy in peoples faces. He loved to give moments that would make memories for everyone to enjoy, even on days like today. What I learned from Bob is that he would not want us to sit here and shed tears over his death. Bob Talbert, Brother, Husband, Dad, Father-in-Law, Pop-Pop, Grandpa, friend, neighbor whatever he was or meant to you, would want us all to talk about all the great memories we had of him, tell stories we shared with him, and laugh about how he could turn everything into politics. Tell your stories, keep him alive in your heart, I know he still lives in mine.