He was born at his home in Tenmile, West Virginia on October 15, 1948, to Oran Tobe Talbott and Virginia Jenney Talbott.

He grew up on a farm with six siblings who worked hard to meet their responsibilities.

He graduated from Buckhannon-Upshur High School. He had a passion for cars and the need for speed which led him to drag racing during his teenage years. He liked to take anything that had an engine apart and put it back together until he knew every component. He also enjoyed camping, boating, fishing and the outdoors.

He enlisted in the army and went to Vietnam in the 1970s as a gasoline and diesel mechanic. Soon after, he was reassigned to do transcriptions. He left Vietnam as an E5 specialist and was honored with the Meritorious Badge of Service ARCOM medal. He was very proud to be a veteran and to have served his country.

After serving in the army he returned to Buckhannon and started his own business called Leo’s Carpet Service. He also worked at a coal mine in Buckhannon called DLM before marrying in the 1980s and moving to Wilmington, North Carolina, where he continued his carpet business. In the late 1990s he moved back to West Virginia to be closer to his family where he continued his business and spent the rest of his life.

He is survived by his daughter, Alyssa (Ashley) Humphrey and her partner, Thomas (Daniel) Humphrey; his sisters, Judith Strader, Josie Tenney, Linda Lemmons and Loretta (Jean) Stump; brothers, Dana and Judd Talbott; and many, nieces and nephews.

Military funeral services will be held Monday, April 18 at 10:30 a.m. at the Veterans Section of Heavner Cemetery for family and friends.

Online condolences can be sent to the family at www.polingstclair.com.

Poling-St. Clair Funeral Home in charge of the arrangements.