Glen Olen Talbot was born Oct. 27, 1934 in Trent, to Glen and Opal Talbot. He passed away May 9, 2018 in Vernon. Glen attended school in Newman and Sylvester and graduated in 1952 at Sweetwater High School. After graduation he joined the U.S. Navy, doing his basic training at Corpus Christi and was stationed at Norman, Okla.
He married Billie Jo Forbes June 30, 1953 at Longworth. From 1956 to 1969 he worked for Texaco production in Sweetwater, Graham and Electra. In 1965 he opened his first shoe store in Graham. In 1969 he resigned from Texaco to concentrate on the string of 10 stores he had accumulated across North and West Texas. Also during this time he began calling on other stores in the region, selling shoes for Consolidated Shoe Co. of Lynchburg, Va.
During the late 1980s superstores began spreading into towns in Texas which ultimately put a lot of small businesses out of business. Talbot’s shoe stores were victims as well.
In 1993, he started Talbot Shoe Company. He traveled to New York, purchasing shoes to sell to other shoe and discount companies such as TG&Y and Gibsons. Many shoes were also sold to state prisons in Texas and Oklahoma.
In 2011, Talbot closed his last remaining shoe store in Vernon. In 2012, he closed and retired from Talbot Shoe Co.
Retirement did not last long since he started working with the boll weevil eradication program in Wilbarger and Hardeman counties. He also enjoyed driving and delivering vehicles for Vernon Ford Dodge and working as security at Tyson Foods.
Talbot finally retired to be with his wife, Billie, in 2017, at the age of 82.
He is survived by his wife; brother, Mike and wife Jodie of Denton; sister, Vera and husband James Holiman of Sweetwater; brother, Billy Ray of Sweetwater; sister in-law, Gene of Fort Worth; sons, Billy and wife Carolyn; Tracy and wife Cathy; grandchildren, Crystal, Stephanie, Amber, Jason and Jennifer Cook, along with eight great-grandchildren and one great-great-granddaughter.
He was preceded in death by his brother, Kenneth Don of Fort Worth. He will be buried at Newman Cemetery near Sylvester.
Graveside services were held Friday, May 11, at 11:30 a.m. at Newman Cemetery in Sylvester, under the direction of Sullivan Funeral Home of Vernon.
Visitation was Thursday, May 10, from 6-8 p.m. at Sullivan Funeral Home.
Online condolences may be made to the family at sullivanfuneralhomevernon.com