Ronald Talcott

Ronald Dean Talcott, 75, a retired professional civil engineer, died January 25, 2012 at his home in Lee’s Summit, MO. Memorial services will be held at 3:00 p.m. Sunday, January 29, 2012 in the Salvation Army Church, 14700 East Truman Road, Independence, MO 64050. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service starting at 2:00 p.m. Ron was born March 3, 1936, in a log cabin in Kennett, Dunklin County, MO. He was the youngest of five children of parents Van Martin Talcott and Maymie Leona (Bair) Talcott. He graduated from William Chrisman High School in Independence in 1955. Ron was employed as a mechanic in Independence until he entered college at the Kansas City Junior College in 1959 to study engineering. He attended the University of Missouri at Kansas City and continued to work as an engineer for Robert R. Bales & Associates. Ron was employed as the Director of Public Works of the City of Mission, KS from 1960 to 1964. He received his professional engineering license from the states of Missouri, Kansas and Illinois. Ron was employed at the firm of Shafer, Kline & Warren in 1966, eventually becoming a partner and the firm’s president, and worked there until his retirement in 1999. Ron believed very strongly that just about anything in life could be accomplished through hard work, persistence, and education and he encouraged this philosophy in his children. He could be counted on to fix or repair just about anything and after retirement went to work doing what he loved – working with his hands restoring and repairing the homes he managed and rented. For the past several years Ron also became interested in the study of genealogy and spent hours amassing a huge database of research about his family. Ron was a voracious reader and had a great passion for learning. But most of all, Ron was a very loving husband, father, grandfather, and friend who was always ready to step in and help when we needed him. He will be greatly missed by those who loved him dearly. Ron is survived by his wife, Beth (Patton) Franklin; children Tammy Sue Walmann and husband Jeff, Patricia Franklin, and Daniel Franklin and wife Teresa; grandchildren Amy Walmann, Tim Walmann, Ray Littles, Malia and Leila Franklin; and by his sister Pauline Jennings. Ron was preceded in death by his son Ronald Dean Talcott Jr. Contributions may be made to the Salvation Army Church, where Ron and his family were members and active volunteers.