Milton L. Talbert

MILTON LUMPKIN TALBERT > > > Milton L. Talbert, 88. of China Spring died Wednesday, March 13, 2002 > at St. Catherine Center. The family wishes to give a special thanks to > the dedicated staff of St. Catherine Center for their professional care > and loving support. > > Visitation will be at Wilkirson - Hatch - Bailey 1124 Washington Ave, 5 > to 7pm Friday, March 15. Services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at St. > Paul's Episcopal Church. Joe Thomas, a dear family friend, will be the > lay reader. Burial will be at the China Spring Cemetery. > > Milton, the son of Irene and Richard Lumpkin Talbert, born January 5, > 1914, at home on the family ranch north of China Spring. Originally > acquired from a Spanish Land Grant, the ranch remains in the family as a > viable part of their daily lives. > > After graduating from Waco High School and attending Baylor for one > year, Milton obtained his degree in Mechanical Engineering in 1936 from > Rice University. He went to work for Hughes Tool Company in Houston as > a design engineer. ''Lump” was admired and respected for his wisdom > and passion for excellence. He had a long and successful career in oil > tool development and drilling. He held several patents for his rock > bit designs. > > In 1940 Milton married Dorothy Lee Rylander, an RN graduate of Memorial > School of Nursing in Houston. That event marked the beginning of their > family that has for over sixty years touched the hearts and inspired > countless friends and family members alike. Milton also known as > Lump, Uncle Lump, Dad or just Papa T will be missed by many but > remembered even more as a role model in developing the character and > integrity of all who were fortunate to have been a part of his life. > > In 1952 Milton and Dorothy moved their family of three boys from the > bustling Houston suburb to the family ranch. However, engineering was > never far removed from his thoughts. In 1956 Milton accepted a position > with Dresser Industries in Dallas as their Chief Engineer. This began > a fifteen year period where commuting became a way of life. In 1959 > Milton was promoted to Vice President of Engineering and remained in > that position until retiring in 1969. He continued as a consultant for > an additional fifteen years. > > He was an engineer, rancher, and devoted husband and father. He also > was active in community service and was proud of his thirty-two years of > service on the China Spring School Board. He was a charter member and > served on the Board of Directors of the Cross Country Water Supply > System and Double Circle Co-op. He was a dedicated supporter of the > China Spring Volunteer Fire Department and donated the land for their > current fire station. > > He is preceded in death by two sons, Lee and Thomas Matthew; a brother, > Oscar Cicero; and his parents. > > Memorials may be made to the Milton Talbert Resource Learning Center at > China Spring High School % CSISD Administration Bldg., Sylvia St., China > Spring, TX 76633, attention Mrs. Linda Mitchell and to St. Paul's > Episcopal Church, 515 Columbus Ave., Waco, TX 76701. > > Milton is survived by his wife, Dorothy; sons, Milton Jr. and wife Tot, > Richard Patrick of China Spring; grandchildren, Tracy and husband > Michael Larsen of Los Angeles, Julie and husband Nick Webb of New York > City, Todd and wife Gina Talbert of Casper, Wyoming, Bradley and wife > Marta Talbert of China Spring; and two great granddaughters, Madison Lee > and Grace Elizabeth Talbert of China Spring; and a special friend of the > family, Patti Tamberella. > > Pallbearers will be Tracy Larsen, Julie Webb, Todd Talbert, Brad > Talbert, Bill Thomas, Mike Tamberella, Charles Ferguson and Jim > Langford. > > Honorary Pallbearers will be George Casen, A.P. Farr, Bob Johnson, Ron > Gibson, Michael Larsen, C.P. Downing and Nick Webb. > > WILKIRSON-HATCH-BAILEY > >