Wayne Eldon Talburt
Funeral services for Wayne Eldon Talburt, 62, West Plains, Missouri, will be held at 1:00 p.m., Wednesday, December 1, 2021 at First Freewill Baptist Church, under the direction of Robertson-Drago Funeral Home.
Mr. Talburt passed away at 2:52 p.m., Friday, November 26, 2021, at Cox Medical Center South, Springfield, Missouri.
He was born February 14, 1959, at Mountain View, Missouri, to Amoms Talburt and Lavada Dixon Talburt. On August 11, 1992, he was married at Branson, Missouri, to Ramona Cline. Mr. Talburt graduated from Willow Springs High School with the Class of 1977 and received a Bachelor of Science degree from College of the Ozarks in 1981, major in Criminal Justice, Corrections and Sociology with a G.P.A. of 3.19 and earned a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from Missouri State University, Springfield in 1993 with a G.P.A. of 3.62. He worked for the Missouri State Water Patrol/Highway Patrol beginning in January of 1981 and retired in July of 2016 as the rank of Lieutenant and had been a dive team supervisor, dive team instructor, academy instructor and criminal investigations. He had numerous teaching experiences: Missouri State Water Patrol Dive Team, National Association of State Boating Law Administrators, Missouri State Water Patrol Academy, Missouri State Highway Patrol Academy, Missouri State Conservation Department Academy, St. Charles Police Academy, College of the Ozarks, Administration of Justice, CPR, Survival Swimming and White Water, CPR, Lifeguard, First Aid; Professional Certifications: P.O.S.T. Certified Generalist Instructor, F.B.I. Law Enforcement Instructor Development, P.A.D.I. Master Scuba Diver Instructor, First Responder, First Aid, CPR, Defensive Tactics and Physical Fitness Specialist Instructor and 8 Course Certifications for FEMA and Homeland Security; Honors and Awards: Missouri Peace Officers Association Officer of the Year, Missouri State Water Patrol Meritorious Service Citation and Colonels Commendation, Missouri State Highway Patrol Lifesaving Award, State Employee of the Month Award, National Association of State Boating Law Administrators State Office of the Year, Governor’s Achievement Award, Red Cross Volunteer of the Year, 1980 National Man of the Year Award and National Silver Finn Award with his dive team. Other Accomplishments: College of the Ozarks Associates Board from 2015 to present, Member of the Missouri State Water Patrol Underwater Recovery Team for 26 years, Supervisor of Missouri State Water Patrol Underwater Recovery Team for 16 years, Dora School Board from 200 to 2006 (President for 3 of the 6 years), Volunteer f or Taney County and St. Charles County Red Cross from 1980 to 1994. Mr. Talburt attended Dora Assembly of God Church. Jesus Christ was most important to him; he was a strong man of faith. Wayne mowed yards and took care of the local widows. He put his life at risk for others and was awarded for saving a man’s life. He raised his boys to be good Christian men. He loved his family, especially his wife. He was the backbone of his family. He loved his water patrol brothers like family. He enjoyed reading and taking in the beauty of the Ozarks, taking road trips at least once a week. Wayne felt that diving was what God created him to do and to provide comfort to the surviving families by praying with them; he saw his job as a witness to Christ. Mr. Talburt was well known throughout the State of Missouri; other States would often call upon his help with training. Because of him, one of three dive teams would be called for National help.
He is survived by his wife, Ramona Talburt, of the family home; three children, Grant Talburt and wife, Clancy, West Plains, Seth Talburt and wife, Kirsten, Ava, Missouri and Susan Howard and husband, Ronnie, Dora, Missouri; his mother, Lavada Dixon, West Plains; father-in-law, Danny Cline, West Plains; two brothers, Hal Talburt, West Plains and Brad Talburt and wife, Joanne, Doniphan, Missouri; brother-in-law, Scott Cline and wife, Tina; sister-in-law, Monica Tate and husband, Brandon; several nieces and nephews that he loved dearly, Elissa Tate, Madison Cline, Caleb Cline, Shayne Talburt and wife, Stephanie and Bryce Talburt and wife, Shelby.
His father, one sister, Sondra Talburt and mother-in-law, Donna Cline, preceded him in death.
Visitation will be held from 11:00 a.m., to service time on Wednesday at First Freewill Baptist Church. Memorial contributions may be made to College of the Ozarks and may be left at or mailed to Robertson-Drago Funeral Home, 211 West Main, West Plains, MO 65775.
