Bobby Dale Talbert, age 82, of White Bluff, Tennessee, left this world to be with his Savior on Tuesday, July 17, 2018. Military graveside services will begin at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, July 21, 2018 at the Gillian Cemetery, White Bluff. Family and friends will re-assemble at 2:00 p.m. at the Taylor Funeral Home chapel for a short memorial service.
Bobby was the youngest of 14 children. His parents were James Calvin and Addie Arnold Talbert. Bobby graduated from Dickson High School in 1953, and then served in the Air Force as an Airborne Radar Technician. After his honorable discharge in 1957, he earned a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from Texas Tech University and was a registered Professional Engineer. He worked for General Motors from 1962 to 1966; and worked on the NASA Apollo program. To be closer to his home and family in Dickson County, he and Jane moved back home and he then worked for Nashville Electric Service for 33 years, retiring in 2000. As a retirement celebration, he ran from downtown Nashville to his home in White Bluff, a distance of 32 miles. His son and many of his grandchildren share his love of running. His daughters do not.
During his working career and into retirement, he was a pastor at multiple churches, led mission trips to South Dakota and Alaska, and was the founder and director of Evangelical Missions Support. Through EMS he led mission trips to El Salvador for over 20 years, and continued to support Christian schools, health clinics and evangelism efforts there until the day of his passing.
Bobby also was a chaplain for the Tennessee State Guard and retired with the rank of Colonel. For years he coordinated and participated in military funeral honor ceremonies for veterans in Tennessee.
He was married to Jane Anne Talbert for 58 years, and they spent many years not only traveling to the Western parts of the US on vacations, but also working on many mission trips together. Jane was his helper and supporter for all of the churches and missions that he led. Bobby and Jane are members of Pomona Baptist Church.
His children are Carolyn (Landel) Bilbrey, Sherry (Mike) Burton, and Robert (Cathy) Talbert.
He loved his ten grandchildren and he made a huge impact on their lives. His grandchildren are Hudson Bilbrey, Clark (Emma) Bilbrey, Hannah Burton, Abby (Luke) Smith, Drew Burton, Lydia Burton, Noah Burton, Lucy Talbert, Penelope Talbert, and Harrison Talbert.
If you would like to honor Bobby's life, he would want you to support the on-going mission work in El Salvador, through Evangelical Missions Support. Donations can be sent to EMS, 872 Arnold Road, White Bluff, TN 37187
