UNION, WV --- Franklin "Frank" Talbott, age 87, of Union, WV and also Port St. John, FL, slipped the surly bonds of earth on Tuesday, December 3, 2019 at Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital, Roanoke, VA. He was born September 12, 1932 in Alderson, WV. He was the son of the late Lacy Ernest and Anna Margaret Hall Talbott, a 5 ^th generation Talbott in Monroe County. The family moved to Miami in 1942 during WWII, where he fell in love with airplanes which flew day and night during the war years. After high school, he attended the University of Florida and later enlisted in the U.S. Army during the Korean War to gain assistance from the G.I. Bill to help continue his pilot training. He served briefly in Korea and when the truce occurred, he transferred to WWII German occupation duty doing border patrol with the 6 ^th Armored Calvary. After military service and finishing his rating, his first job was flying open cockpit biplanes, crop dusting for Delta Air Lines Agricultural Division throughout Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas. During his 35-year commercial flying career he flew over a dozen various prop and jet liners for Northeast and Delta Airlines, logging over 28,000 hours. In 1992 he retired at the FAA mandated age of 60 years old and continued flying for recreation with a private pilot's license. In 2007 he was honored with the FAA's prestigious Wright Brothers "Master Pilot" Award which is given for 50 years of certified safe flight.

He is survived by his wife Ruth Ann Talbott of Union, WV; two daughters, Shelly Talbott Whittaker of Cocoa, FL and Lynda Talbott Esserman and husband Dr. James Esserman of Miami, FL; one granddaughter, Krysta Lee Garcia of Miami, FL; two grandsons, Jarrod Talbott Whittaker of Cocoa, FL, and Alex Franklin Garcia and wife Naomi of Miami, FL; and two great-grandchildren, Aaron Alexander Garcia and Leah Rose Garcia of Miami, FL.

In keeping with Frank's wishes, he will be cremated, and a memorial service will be held 2:00 p.m. Saturday, January 18, 2020 at the Groves-Mann Funeral Home Chapel in Union, WV. Friends may call Saturday, January 18, 2020 from 1:00 p.m. until time of services at the funeral home. A private scattering ceremony will be held at a later date. The family request memorial donations be made in Frank's memory to the Salvation Army or to a charity of your choice. Those wishing to send the Talbott Family online condolences or sign the online guestbook may do so by visiting www.groves-mann.com Arrangements by Groves-Mann Funeral Home, Union, WV.