Robert L Talbott of Pasco, WA passed away on Sunday August 27, 2017 at Kadlec Medical Center in Richland, WA at the age of 73.  Robert was born on July 23, 1944 in Paola, Kansas to Bonnie Coburn Talbott and Arthur Talbott.  He was raised by his mother Bonnie and stepfather Alfred Powell in Olathe Kansas.  In August of 1961 he enlisted in the Navy at the age of 17.  While in the Navy he became a radio operator and was assigned to the USS Oriskany.  In July of 1965 he was released from active duty and was transferred to the reserves. In March of 1966, after returning home, his best friend set him up on a blind date with a young lady named Cheri Vice, she happened to be his best friends cousin.  They quickly learned that they were soul mates and on April 23, 1966 they married, only six weeks after their blind date.  In 1967 they put all their belongings in their Triumph TR6 and moved to Portland, Oregon where they resided for the next 34 years. 

Upon settling in Portland, Oregon, Bob quickly landed employment with a paper mill, Container Corporation (nka Jefferson Smurfit Corp).  Although he started at the bottom working in the plant on shift work it wasn’t long before he was offered an office position as a customer service representative.  He continued to show his strength in this position to the point he ultimately became the regional customer service manager, the position in which he retired from in 1999 after serving the company for more than 30 years.

Together, Bob and Cheri raised two daughters and many dogs.  When the girls were young Bob was not much of a dog person, however anyone who knew him in the last 30 years would have never been able to guess that.  After their kids were raised and on their own, Bob and Cheri spoiled each dog they had as if they were their children.

In 2001 after Bob convinced Cheri to retire, they sold their home in Gresham OR and purchased a motorhome and traveled for a year.  They quickly learned that they preferred to have a place to call “home”.  In 2003 they relocated to Umatilla, OR where they bought a house with a beautiful view of the Columbia River, which also enabled them to be closer to their three granddaughters.

Bob’s family meant the world to him.  He was a kind quiet man who would do anything for his family.  His laugh was mischievous and contagious and if he paired that with his special grin you would begin to wonder what he was up to.  He could be agreeable to a fault but only wanted to please those around him. He loved his spicy food, chips and salsa and beer and wine. He was a charming man that would never let one of his ladies open a door if he could help it. It became apparent to his family that his hobbies later in life became doing whatever projects Cheri would dream up.  If she could dream it, he would help her build it.  This after all helped him with his other hobby of collecting the tools for working in his garage or yard.  Together they created a beautiful oasis at their Umatilla home that their children referred to as “Paradise” where they often enjoyed taking in their beautiful view together.

Robert (Bob) is survived by his daughters Angela (Gary) Ford, and Heather (Eric) Kesterson, grand-daughters Brittany, Rebecca & Sarah Ford, his sister Pat (Ron) Parton and family, sister Kathy (Harley) Hontz and family, Debby (George) Rockelein, and a brother Greg Talbott, as well as his pups Oliver and Mac.  He was preceded in death by his soul mate and wife Cheri Talbott, his mother Bonnie Powell, father Arthur Talbott, Sister Alice Dittemore, and step father Alfred Powell.

His family will forever miss Bob and his love, but he will remain in their hearts forever.  They are finding peace in that Bob has been reunited with the love of his life and soul mate Cheri, whom he shared a wonderful 49 ½ years of marriage.  The strength in the love that they shared has been an inspiration for his daughters and their families.