He was born Jan. 15, 1928 to Coy Talmage and Bess Marie McDaniel Turney, in Snowball, Ark. At the age of 10 his family moved to Harrison, Ark. where he attended school, graduating from Harrison High School. He entered the University of Arkansas where he joined Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity. He left school to join the Navy, serving in the Navy Air Corp in Pensacola, Fla. With the end of the war, he went to Arkansas Tech at Russellville and later transferred back to the university at Fayetteville graduating with a B.S.I.M. in 1952. He joined the Kroger Grocery management program but left to work for Beech Aircraft in Wichita, Kan. He became a technical writer for Boeing Aircraft in Wichita. He graduated from Wichita State University with a B.S.I.E. in 1957.
While employed at Boeing, he met his future wife, Ann Kunkle (LHS Class of 1952), and they married on Sept. 1, 1957. The following year he accepted an engineering position with Pacific Mercury, Inc. and moved to Joplin, Mo. He remained with the company as it transitioned to Fairchild Camera and Instrument, Inc., Dor-Flex Electronics and finally, LaBarge Electronics. He became president of LaBarge Electronics Division, being responsible for the expansion to plants in Arkansas, as well as operations in Tulsa, Okla., and California. In 1979 he left LaBarge to start his own business, North American Carbide Tooling, Inc. in Galena, Kan., refurbishing carbide inserts, and in 1980 established Quality Inter-Connect Systems, Inc., for the manufacture of cable assemblies and wire harnesses. He also established Wonder Wicker, manufacturing fiberglass wicker furniture for several years. He was a member of St Philip's Episcopal Church and served on the Vestry, as Junior Warden and usher. He was a former member of the Optimist Club and a present member of Twin Hills Golf and Country Club. He was a licensed Professional Engineer. He was an avid supporter of the Arkansas Razorbacks, holding season tickets and attending all home football games for many years; a member of the Razorback Foundation and life member of the alumni association. He was a man of integrity, dedicated to his family, his church, the Razorbacks, and his company and his employees.
He is survived by his wife, Ann, of the home; sons, Jay Talmage, of Galena, Kan., and Clayton Rust and his wife, Stacy, of Joplin; and daughter, Georgeanna Layton, Kansas City, Mo. He is also survived by granddaughter, Jessica Layton, of Perry, Kan.; and grandsons, Joel Alan Layton, Oakland, Calif., Adam Lee and Nicholas Joseph Turney, of Joplin, Mo. Also survived by brothers-in-law; nieces and nephews; and cousins.
Memorial Mass will be held at St. Philip's Episcopal Church at 1:30 p.m. Thursday, July 31, with cremains to be interred in St. Francis Garden, at the church. Officiants will be Fr. Frank Sierra and Deacon G. Owen Kunkle.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be sent to St. Philip's Episcopal Church, 706 Byers Avenue, Joplin, Missouri 64801.
Cremations arrangements under the direction of Parker Mortuary, Joplin.
Online condolences may be made at www.parkermortuary.com
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