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(From Mason-Woodard Mortuary)William “Bill” Talent, passed away at his home on January 14, 2024, surrounded by his family. William was born on November 30, 1946, in Sacramento, CA, the son of the late William Peter Smith and Elsie Longfield Smith.
Bill shared his presence from California all the way to the little town of Carl Junction where he graduated from Carl Junction High School – Class of 1964, helped on the farm, and later became interested in purchasing a little lady’s music box.
The purchase of an accordion by a local by the name of Kathern Beeler would shape the future of his life forever. The couple shared letters back and forth between the States and Vietnam during the war which rolled into wedded bliss on June 20, 1969.
Over the years they would live in Wichita, Joplin, and then Carl Junction where they would make many lifelong friendships that they still have today. After many years of trying to start a family, the couple were blessed with only one child, Kristen, a “Bill Talent Special”, aka Bill’s mini me. Bill and Kathern were also blessed with a heart-of-gold son-in-law, Robert Fecke, who gave him two beautiful grandchildren, Willa & Kenzi.
William Talent made a name for himself with his charm, analytical mind, and loudmouth. He was also a caring ornery husband, son, brother, father, uncle, friend, and papa. He always had a different way of seeing things with always analyzing ways around the impossible. “No”, was never an answer for anything.
Bill’s career as an Electronic Engineer began working for Sperry Univac at McConnell Air Force Base, and then Cardinal Scales, as well as Eagle Picher, Ling Electronics and Paul Mueller. The time he spent with Ling Electronics headquartered in Anaheim, CA, opened many traveling abroad opportunities. For a decade he would travel internationally to China, Japan, Australia, Spain, Taiwan, etc., as well as throughout the United States. He retired from Paul Mueller in Springfield, Missouri back in 2010 where he made many lifelong friends.
Yes, he accomplished many other things, like creating a battery that went to the moon, serving his country during the Vietnam War, but the continuance of fixing what was not broken would keep all of us on our toes.
Over the years they would live in Wichita, Joplin, and then Carl Junction where they would make many lifelong friendships that they still have today. After many years of trying to start a family, the couple were blessed with only one child, Kristen, a “Bill Talent Special”, aka Bill’s mini me. Bill and Kathern were also blessed with a heart-of-gold son-in-law, Robert Fecke, who gave him two beautiful grandchildren, Willa & Kenzi.
William Talent made a name for himself with his charm, analytical mind, and loudmouth. He was also a caring ornery husband, son, brother, father, uncle, friend, and papa. He always had a different way of seeing things with always analyzing ways around the impossible. “No”, was never an answer for anything.
Bill’s career as an Electronic Engineer began working for Sperry Univac at McConnell Air Force Base, and then Cardinal Scales, as well as Eagle Picher, Ling Electronics and Paul Mueller. The time he spent with Ling Electronics headquartered in Anaheim, CA, opened many traveling abroad opportunities. For a decade he would travel internationally to China, Japan, Australia, Spain, Taiwan, etc., as well as throughout the United States. He retired from Paul Mueller in Springfield, Missouri back in 2010 where he made many lifelong friends.
Yes, he accomplished many other things, like creating a battery that went to the moon, serving his country during the Vietnam War, but the continuance of fixing what was not broken would keep all of us on our toes.
The last few years of Bill’s life were a struggle as the ugly grip of Parkinson’s, dementia, and Ischemic Heart Disease took hold. Every day was a new adventure with him as his corky attitude never slipped once. He continued to live out and cherish the last years of his life with his wife, daughter, son, and grandchildren always by his side surrounded by conversation and laughter. There will only be one, the one, Bill Talent Special.
Thursday, January 18th, 2024 6:00pm - 7:00pm
Mason-Woodard Chapel
3701 E. 7th. St.
Joplin, MO 64801
Service
Friday, January 19th, 2024 10:00am
Mason-Woodard Chapel
3701 E. 7th. St.
Joplin, MO 64801
Officiant
Pastor Troy Farris
Interment
Friday, January 19th, 2024
Ozark Memorial Park Cemetery
415 N. St. Louis Ave.
Joplin, Missouri 64801
Mason-Woodard Chapel
3701 E. 7th. St.
Joplin, MO 64801
Service
Friday, January 19th, 2024 10:00am
Mason-Woodard Chapel
3701 E. 7th. St.
Joplin, MO 64801
Officiant
Pastor Troy Farris
Interment
Friday, January 19th, 2024
Ozark Memorial Park Cemetery
415 N. St. Louis Ave.
Joplin, Missouri 64801
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