Donald Talbott

Don passed away early Monday morning at home peacefully with his wife, Ione, at his side.

Don was born in Riggins, Idaho, to Platte Talbott Jr. and Alberta (Holbrook) Talbott and was raised around the Joseph, Oregon area. He graduated from high school at the age of 16 and worked in Walla Walla area on farms until he joined the U.S. Army as a paratrooper. He served in Korea during the ending of the Korean War and actually was captured for about two weeks, until they were transferring some of the prisoners elsewhere and he and a fellow officer escaped.

Don got out of the service toward the middle of the 1950s. He then worked for various farmers here in the Walla Walla Valley and continued to work for them even after he began working at the Washington State Penitentiary, where he was employed for 27½ years, until his retirement in March of 1985. He was an officer, sergeant, lieutenant and he retired as a captain. During his years at WSP, he made and has maintained close friendships with many of the other staff. Many have visited him at home and made it fun for Don to enjoy reminiscing about their experiences together.

He enjoyed going to Las Vegas Rodeo Finals when he could. He also enjoyed watching football during the season. He remained a “cowboy” at heart all his life. He was a hard worker and a loving caring husband and father and grandpa. He loved teasing and being teased back. He had quite the sense of humor and enjoyed getting someone off guard with a joke while keeping a serious face. He was a faithful and kind friend to all. He was a hard worker from the time he was a young boy growing up on farm work and animals all his life. He loved his dogs also and came up with different names for them, Dummy, Silly, Four Eyes, etc., they were always a special part of his life too.

Don is survived by daughters, Terri (Allen) Cravens, Peggy (Randy) Prahl, Julie Owens, Kathy (John) Olson; sons, Jim (Kerrie) Talbott, Greg Graham; grandchildren, Brittany (Mark) Phelan, Nickele (Jeff) Harper, Aubrey Prahl, Amandla Owens Turner, Rex, Jack, Johnnie, Simon Owens, Joshua Graham, Cherish Shirley, Heather Shirley, Micah Olson, Caymen Olson, Graysen Olson, Phelicia (Joey) Cyrus, Ethan Talbott; great-grandchildren, Madeline Phelan, Jasmine and Jocelyn Shirley, Ciara, Kaleah, and Makenna Cyrus; brothers, Fred (Saonni) Talbott, Bob Talbott; two sisters, Irene Duckett and Marge Tripp; several nieces and nephews; very close friends, Dick and Sandi Carpenter. He was preceded in death by his parents; daughter, Susan Talbott; grandson, Stetson Lee Talbott; brother, Everett Talbott.

Memorial service will be Saturday, Dec. 13, 2014, at Herring Groseclose Funeral Home chapel at 10 a.m. Memorial donations may be made to Walla Walla Valley Cowboy Church or Amazing Grace Nazarene Church through Herring Groseclose Funeral Home, 315 W. Alder, Walla Walla, WA 99362.