James Rex Talbot
July 15, 1938 – February 12, 2022
It is with a measure of sadness, but great appreciation for a wonderful life that the Talbot family announces the passing of James Rex Talbot after a short battle with cancer on the 12th of February. He died peacefully at home in St. Leonard, MD, surrounded by loving family. Born the 15th of July, 1938 in Paragonah, Utah to Orson and Annie Talbot, he was the husband of Sandra Goodrich Talbot for 60 years, father of five sons, and beloved grandpa to seventeen grandchildren and three great grandchildren.
He is survived by his cherished wife Sandra, children Craig (Cynthia) of Leesburg, VA; Chad (Talli) of Peoria, AZ; Cary (Angela) of Vicksburg, MS; Christopher (Rebecca) of Nacogdoches, TX; Colin (Deborah) of Lovettsville, VA; and siblings Anna (Arnold) Mellor of Lake Shore, UT; Ardel (Julie) of Snowflake, AZ; Neil (Barbara) of Reno, NV; Judy (Carl) Henrie of Panguitch, UT. He is preceded in death by his parents Orson Talbot and Annie Gale, and siblings Beth Fairbanks, Brent, Gordon, and Bobby.
Jim was a loving, devoted husband and father, dedicated to serving his family and his savior. A faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, he served the Church his whole life through various leadership callings, most recently as a patriarch and as a sealer in the Washington, D.C. Temple.
A civil engineer specializing in earth dam design, Jim worked for the U. S. Department of Agriculture for 35 years and then continued in consulting services through 2021. Jim’s contributions to earth dam design are world renowned. He is credited with the development of several design features that have improved dam safety. He was awarded the prestigious Norman Medal by the American Society of Civil Engineers in 1985, the highest honor granted by ASCE for a technical paper that makes a definitive contribution to engineering science.
Jim was an avid sailor and loved spending time on the Chesapeake Bay with family and friends on his boat Legacy.
Jim will be dearly missed by all his family, friends, and many other recipients of his love and service over the many years of his remarkable life. He lived great and died great in the eyes of his family, his church, and his community, above reproach and worthy of emulation.
The family will hold a memorial service on Saturday February 19, 2022 at 12 noon EST all are invited to attend through the zoom meeting link provided. https://zoom.us/j/92981651329
Visitation
Services
Saturday, February 19, 2022
12:00 PM
Interment
Contributions
Condolences
Sort Comments
14 Feb 2022
3:03pm
I will miss Brother Talbot and his spirit that he always brought to the front of the church. Thank you Brother Talbot, I always looked into your eyes and saw peace. Paradise is where you are today. Love and respect for the entire Talbot family.
City
Prince Frederick
State
Maryland
14 Feb 2022
4:28pm
Our prayers are with his wonderful wife and family. ♥️🌹
He was such a special man. I took my sister to him for her patriarchal blessing and you could feel the peacefulness and love in his home. My sister Monica was blessed to be in his ward and him and his wife really looked out for her and I thank them so much for that. We took a picture of him with Monica and I.
I was blessed again to go to their home this time with my daughter and her husband he being a new member, to receive their blessings also. And we took a picture of my daughter and her hubby with him. It was a blessing to be in his home again. He and his wonderful wife were blessings to so many.
Till we meet again our love and hearts are with you and your family here. ♥️♥️🌹🌹
City
Leonardtown
State
Maryland
15 Feb 2022
8:44am
His sweet spirit will be missed
City
Hughesville
State
MD
15 Feb 2022
4:49pm
I very much enjoyed working with James at the Philadelphia Temple. He was such a faithful person. I will miss seeing him.
City
Newark
State
DE
16 Feb 2022
6:39pm
I had the honor and privilege to serve as his secretary/scribe. What an opportunity to feel his spirit communicating with the Lord and serving as voice for these beloved blessings. Norm and I enjoyed many temple trips with Jim and Sandra to Philadelphia Temple, topped off with dinner at Chevys. We love them so much and look forward to a reunion some day💗. Norm and Dari Davis
City
Fort Myers
State
FL
17 Feb 2022
10:41am
A phrase often used at times like this is “A giant has fallen.” Jim Talbot was and is a giant, but he has not fallen. He has risen to the next level of his eternal journey. I will never forget the day the Talbots first attended the Calvert Ward. Though not a member of the Church at the time, Sandra served faithfully in our ward library. Jim was everything to everyone! One of my greatest memories of this wonderful man occurred in a private moment immediately after Sandra’s baptism. Jim was so overcome with joy that he could not speak. I love Jim and Sandra Talbot!
“Lives of great men all remind us
We can make our lives sublime,
And, departing, leave behind us
Footprints on the sands of time.”
(A Psalm of Life by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow)
City
Providence
State
Utah
17 Feb 2022
1:57pm
A beautiful, loving and dear man that I will always remember and love. His sunny and kind persona was given to all who came in contact with him.
Even though I was not attending church all the time he never treated me different. Always so loving. So kind . He truly was an angel on earth and now has returned to his Heavenly home. He will be missed and always loved.
City
Lusby
State
Md.
17 Feb 2022
2:56pm
All of our love goes out to your family. We will miss you so much, Jim. Thank you for always bringing a smile to my face and for never judging me and for always being supportive when I was going through difficult stuff. My prayers and love to Sandra and your entire family, you’re forever in me and Mike’s hearts.
~ Lynn and Mike
City
Saint Leonard
State
Maryland
17 Feb 2022
6:23pm
Jim and Sandra have made me feel loved and accepted always and no matter what, been my friends and my examples, encouraged me, laughed with me, prayed with me. I love Jim Talbot, and I am a better person because of my belief that he loves me, too.
City
Dunkirk
State
MD
18 Feb 2022
11:43am
Our sincere condolences to the Talbot family. We didn’t know Jim but we had an idea of what a great person he was from knowing his son Cary when we were in Vicksburg. We are sorry for your loss and pray that you will be comforted in this trying time. We are certain Jim is not far away and that he is joyfully renewing his acquaintances with his family and friends that have gone on before him. We are positive that he will be anxiously awaiting your arrival on the other side when that time comes. It will be a wonderful reunion that will make up for the sorrow and loss you are feeling now. Our thoughts and prayers are with your family.
City
Mountain Home
State
Idaho
19 Feb 2022
8:44am
From his friends and colleagues at ASDSO. Many friends and colleagues of Jim’s put together the following remarks. Many people said similar things and they have been condensed here:
I have come to appreciate Jim for both his exceptional technical skills and distinguished career as a geotechnical and dam safety engineer, but also as an exceptional human being in the way he treats other people and mentors emerging engineers.
Jim was the ultimate professional and gentleman, combining a humble intellect and expertise with a genuine friendliness. His contributions to the profession have been enormous.
Jim was a world-renowned dam safety expert report for in filters, always in high demand, with a wonderful sense of humor and an avid sailor spending many hours sailing on the Chesapeake Bay.
Given all his achievements, many colleagues reflected upon one of his most distinguishing character traits — that of a patient teacher. Jim was passionate about geotechnical engineering, very willing to share his lessons learned, and teach technical information not contained in published information and guidelines. Jim was a significant mentor to many people within the geotechnical engineering profession who spoke about how much they appreciated Jim’s mentoring.
City
Lexington
State
KY
19 Feb 2022
1:39pm
Dear Sweet Talbot Family,
Thank you so much for including us in Jim’s Memorial Service. We love your family so much and count it a blessing to be considered your friends. We were blessed in his memorial service with the Holy Spirit just as we were while he was alive and near him. What an outstanding son of our Heavenly Father. But, than we all knew that, didn’t we. His life has stood as an example for all of us. Hearing about his goodness makes us all want to become better people. Sandra, we loved the poem you wrote for him and could feel the Spirit as it was read, knowing that it is true that as we leave this world we enter into the next to be with those who have gone before us. May the Lord continue to bless you and comfort you during this time is our humble prayer. Love, Lynn and Bonnie Justice
City
Nacogdoches
State
Texas
Sort Comments
I will miss Brother Talbot and his spirit that he always brought to the front of the church. Thank you Brother Talbot, I always looked into your eyes and saw peace. Paradise is where you are today. Love and respect for the entire Talbot family.
Our prayers are with his wonderful wife and family. ♥️🌹
He was such a special man. I took my sister to him for her patriarchal blessing and you could feel the peacefulness and love in his home. My sister Monica was blessed to be in his ward and him and his wife really looked out for her and I thank them so much for that. We took a picture of him with Monica and I.
I was blessed again to go to their home this time with my daughter and her husband he being a new member, to receive their blessings also. And we took a picture of my daughter and her hubby with him. It was a blessing to be in his home again. He and his wonderful wife were blessings to so many.
Till we meet again our love and hearts are with you and your family here. ♥️♥️🌹🌹
His sweet spirit will be missed
I very much enjoyed working with James at the Philadelphia Temple. He was such a faithful person. I will miss seeing him.
I had the honor and privilege to serve as his secretary/scribe. What an opportunity to feel his spirit communicating with the Lord and serving as voice for these beloved blessings. Norm and I enjoyed many temple trips with Jim and Sandra to Philadelphia Temple, topped off with dinner at Chevys. We love them so much and look forward to a reunion some day💗. Norm and Dari Davis
A phrase often used at times like this is “A giant has fallen.” Jim Talbot was and is a giant, but he has not fallen. He has risen to the next level of his eternal journey. I will never forget the day the Talbots first attended the Calvert Ward. Though not a member of the Church at the time, Sandra served faithfully in our ward library. Jim was everything to everyone! One of my greatest memories of this wonderful man occurred in a private moment immediately after Sandra’s baptism. Jim was so overcome with joy that he could not speak. I love Jim and Sandra Talbot!
“Lives of great men all remind us
We can make our lives sublime,
And, departing, leave behind us
Footprints on the sands of time.”
(A Psalm of Life by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow)
A beautiful, loving and dear man that I will always remember and love. His sunny and kind persona was given to all who came in contact with him.
Even though I was not attending church all the time he never treated me different. Always so loving. So kind . He truly was an angel on earth and now has returned to his Heavenly home. He will be missed and always loved.
All of our love goes out to your family. We will miss you so much, Jim. Thank you for always bringing a smile to my face and for never judging me and for always being supportive when I was going through difficult stuff. My prayers and love to Sandra and your entire family, you’re forever in me and Mike’s hearts.
~ Lynn and Mike
Jim and Sandra have made me feel loved and accepted always and no matter what, been my friends and my examples, encouraged me, laughed with me, prayed with me. I love Jim Talbot, and I am a better person because of my belief that he loves me, too.
Our sincere condolences to the Talbot family. We didn’t know Jim but we had an idea of what a great person he was from knowing his son Cary when we were in Vicksburg. We are sorry for your loss and pray that you will be comforted in this trying time. We are certain Jim is not far away and that he is joyfully renewing his acquaintances with his family and friends that have gone on before him. We are positive that he will be anxiously awaiting your arrival on the other side when that time comes. It will be a wonderful reunion that will make up for the sorrow and loss you are feeling now. Our thoughts and prayers are with your family.
From his friends and colleagues at ASDSO. Many friends and colleagues of Jim’s put together the following remarks. Many people said similar things and they have been condensed here:
I have come to appreciate Jim for both his exceptional technical skills and distinguished career as a geotechnical and dam safety engineer, but also as an exceptional human being in the way he treats other people and mentors emerging engineers.
Jim was the ultimate professional and gentleman, combining a humble intellect and expertise with a genuine friendliness. His contributions to the profession have been enormous.
Jim was a world-renowned dam safety expert report for in filters, always in high demand, with a wonderful sense of humor and an avid sailor spending many hours sailing on the Chesapeake Bay.
Given all his achievements, many colleagues reflected upon one of his most distinguishing character traits — that of a patient teacher. Jim was passionate about geotechnical engineering, very willing to share his lessons learned, and teach technical information not contained in published information and guidelines. Jim was a significant mentor to many people within the geotechnical engineering profession who spoke about how much they appreciated Jim’s mentoring.
Dear Sweet Talbot Family,
Thank you so much for including us in Jim’s Memorial Service. We love your family so much and count it a blessing to be considered your friends. We were blessed in his memorial service with the Holy Spirit just as we were while he was alive and near him. What an outstanding son of our Heavenly Father. But, than we all knew that, didn’t we. His life has stood as an example for all of us. Hearing about his goodness makes us all want to become better people. Sandra, we loved the poem you wrote for him and could feel the Spirit as it was read, knowing that it is true that as we leave this world we enter into the next to be with those who have gone before us. May the Lord continue to bless you and comfort you during this time is our humble prayer. Love, Lynn and Bonnie Justice