Roy Stanley Talmadge

Roy Stanley Talmadge (Stan to family and close friends) was born January 8, 1944, to parents Ruth Rosine (Summers) Talmadge and Roy Francis Talmadge in Aurora Missouri. Stan’s father was serving overseas in WWII and did not see his son until he was two years of age. His mother shared an apartment with her older sister Verna Mae in their hometown of Monett, Missouri, while Roy was deployed.

During his childhood, the Talmadge family moved several times while Roy was in the Army and his six brothers and sisters were born in different states throughout those years. One year Stan attended five different schools.

The summer after high school Stan enlisted in the USMC attending boot camp at Camp Pendleton, San Diego, CA. From September 1968 to October 1969, he was deployed to Vietnam and Quang Tri. On June 16, 1969, Sgt. Talmadge, an aerial gunner on an armed UH-1E helicopter was assigned a mission to provide support of a combat base under intense enemy fire. When the external machine guns jammed, he climbed out onto the skids and cleared the weapons, while under fire. Stan was awarded a Bronze Star for his heroism during this mission. In June of 1973, he was honorable discharged from the USMC. In 1984, Stan decided to enlist in the Air National Guard in an active-duty capacity assigned to McConnell AFB, Wichita, KS. He retired and was honorably discharged in 1994 completing 20 years, plus some reserve time of military service.

When Stan was discharged from the USMC, he moved to Washington where his parents lived. His daughter Carey had started school in Bellevue while Stan was mustering out. His sister Alice introduced him to Carey’s Sunday school teacher Patti and eight months later, May 1974, they were married in that same church.

Boeing hired Stan and transferred him to Wichita, KS four months after he and Patti married. They lived in Wichita for 19 years and their son Alex was born there. Patti’s job transferred her back to Washington State in 1993. Stan, Patti & Alex made their home in Kent, WA until Stan’s health began to deteriorate, and they decided to sell their home and find a retirement community.

Stan loved to compete in gun matches at the Cascade pistol and Rifle Range. He competed on the Air Force Team and they soundly won against the Army, even though their equipment was older. The quality of the team brought the trophy home!

Another hobby he enjoyed, which included his brother Billy, was building radio-controlled airplanes and flying them. Stan was able to fly to Texas and spend many hours with his brother sharing their love of flying.

A quiet and humble man of God, Stan passed away at Tacoma General Hospital on December 4, 2022. He will be deeply missed by his wife Patti, daughter Carey (& Kevin), and son Alex (& Kelly). He is survived by his six grandchildren and one great grandson; and siblings Carol, Billy, Alice, and Steve. He is preceded in death by his parents Roy and Rosine Talmadge, sister Shirley and brother Charlie. Stan loved his extended family and his double cousin Terry was like a brother to him as well.

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