Mr. James Riley Talbert, age 92, formerly of 520 Ridge Street, Albemarle, NC, passed away on Friday, August 20th, 2010 at the Brian Center in Concord, NC.  His family will receive friends at Stanly Funeral Home on Monday evening from 7 PM until 9 PM and his graveside funeral will be on Tuesday, August 24th, 2010 in Stanly Gardens of Memory.  Father James Bernacki will officiate.

Born October 19th, 1917 in Stanly County, NC, Mr. Talbert was the son of the late Charlie Monroe Talbert and Cevilla Morton Talbert.  He was a 1937 graduate of Albemarle High School, a retired employee of Wiscassett Mills Co., and of the Baptist Faith.  He was drafted into the Army in 1942 and served in WWII.  He went overseas in March of 1944 and served in all five major conflicts in Europe including the Battle of the Bulge.  He came home on the Queen Elizabeth in 1945.  During his retirement he volunteered to drive cancer patients for treatment to Concord, helped deliver Meals on Wheels and did home repairs for friends and neighbors.  He was a lifelong member of the VFW.  He loved woodworking and gave away most of his hand-made butter molds, rolling pins, and bowls to family, friends, and neighbors.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Lillie Estelle White, whom he was extremely devoted to through all her years of illness.  He is survived by one daughter, Alice Talbert Lewis and husband James "Pluty" Lewis of Albemarle, NC; one brother, Charlie M. Talbert of Lake Station, Indiana; two sisters: Lillian T. Chandler of Albemarle and Grace T. Cagle of Nampa, Idaho; two grandchildren: Timothy James Lewis and wife Sally of Mountain View, California and Wendy M. Lewis of Morrisville, NC (a devoted granddaughter who always came home to help with her grandfather through all his illness); and one great-grandchild, Natasha M. Lewis of Mountain View, California.  A sister, Nellie T. Sasser, preceded him in death. 

Memorials can be made to:

Alzheimer's Charity, Veteran's Charity, or Christ Episcopal Church (his daughter's church) ~ PO BOX 657, Albemarle, NC  28002.

At other times the family will be at the home of his daughter: