Paul Tyler Talbott Sr.

Paul passed sweetly into the arms of the Lord at age 95, on Monday, February 22, 2010 following a short illness. He and his late wife, Mary, were long-time residents of Ross Township and beloved members of Sherwood Oaks Retirement community in Cranberry Township. Paul was born on February 26, 1914 son of Benjamin and Anna (Tyler) Talbott in Potomac, IL and was raised by his aunt and uncle, Hattie (Talbott) and Grant Judy during the Great Depression on a dairy farm in that small community.

Winning the American Ceramic Society scholarship competition for Vermillion County, Paul realized his father’s dream of a college education, graduating from the University of Illinois with a degree in ceramic engineering. As a young man, he discovered a wanderlust that, combined with his small town roots and values, brought him friends and colleagues around the world. From1939-42, he was a foreman in a copper smelter above the tree line in Peru where he also operated a camera import business, documented trips into the interior jungle on early color movie film and became one of the first foreigners to visit Machu Piccu,---on donkeyback.

As a young eligible bachelor with a college degree, he broke quite a few hearts but waited to find his one true love in Mary Eliza Robinson, a relation by marriage that he had nearly met at his cousin Viola’s wedding at age 6! He first met Mary at Viola’s home in Columbus, OH in September 1942 during a trip by Mary and her mother from New York City, where she was a student at the Julliard Institute of Music. They were married the following May, seeing each other only once again before their wedding. Paul enlisted in the US Army, rising to the rank of Captain in the field artillery. He was also an Army Aviator, flying artillery spotter aircraft.

Following military service, he spent many years with the McLain Fire Brick Co. in Wellsville, OH as plant superintendent and district works manager. In 1963, his international career resumed. He served 2 years (1963-65) as ceramic engineering advisor for the US Agency for International Development in Karachi, Pakistan. The rest of his career was as a special projects engineer for the Swindell-Dressler Co, in Pittsburgh. That job involved many projects in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, often accompanied by Mary. After retirement in 1979 he did consulting work and became a dedicated volunteer for the North Area YWCA. He was an Ohio & Pennsylvania Professional Engineer, and a State of Ohio licensed mine foreman. Along with his sister, he held a lifelong interest in genealogy. He was also an ardent student of history and archaeology.

He was preceded in death by Mary in 2008, also sisters Ruth Carpenter and Viola Tucker and brothers Thomas, Gordon and Benjamin Talbott Jr. He is survived by sons Paul Jr. (Carol) of Peachtree City, GA, David (Nancy) of San Marcos, CA and daughter Susan and his dear friend Dave Thomas. Also surviving are six grandchildren, 7 great grandchildren, a sister, Mary Yard, sister-in-law, Elizabeth Whiteman, brother-in-law, Charles Robinson and many nieces and nephews.

Friends will be received at the HP Brandt Funeral Home, Inc 1032 Perry Highway, Ross Twp. (412) 364-4444 on Friday from 2-4 PM and 7-9 PM. He was a very active member of Hiland Presbyterian Church, 845 Perry Highway, Pgh 15229, where a memorial service will be held on Saturday at 11 AM, reception to follow. Memorial gifts may be made to Hiland Presbyterian Church or the Sherwood Oaks Employee Scholarship Fund, 100 Norman Drive, Cranberry Township, PA 16066.

www.brandtfuneralhome.com