G. LESLIE (LES) TALBOT

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G. LESLIE (LES) TALBOT Mr. G. Leslie Talbot of Lethbridge, beloved husband of Mrs. Gertrude Talbot passed away at the Chinook Regional Hospital on Wednesday, December 22, 2010 at the age of 85 years. Les was born January 21, 1925 to Henry and Elizabeth Sarah Talbot. He was one of two children. Les was raised and educated in Southern Alberta, Red Deer, Bentley and Lacombe. After completing high school he enlisted in the R.C.A.F. and trained as a Flying Officer Navigator, serving until 1945, returning back to Canada. He married Gertrude Teare on August 20, 1946 in Lacombe. They have been married for 64 years. Les and Gertrude moved to Calgary where Les attended what is now known as SAIT. They moved to Edmonton where Les attended the University of Alberta to complete his training in Industrial Arts. Les and Gert moved to Montreal where he worked at C.P.R. (Angus Shop) as a supervisor of supportive training. He later began work with Pratt and Whitney in Montreal where he was the Training Director. In 1965 they moved to Winnipeg where he worked as the Director at MIT, later known as Red River Community College. He served there for 14 years and in his last two years there he was the Assistant Deputy Minister of Education for Post Secondary Education for the province of Manitoba. He was past president of the Lions Club in Winnipeg. In 1979 they moved to Lethbridge where Les accepted the position of President of the Lethbridge Community College, where he served as president for over 11 years, retiring in 1990. Throughout his career at the L.C.C., Les was instrumental in the formation of the L.C.C. Foundation. In his retirement, he continued to work and support the foundation for many years. Les was active in many service clubs throughout his life. He has been an active member of the downtown Lethbridge Rotary Club; the first president of the Lethbridge Probus Club; the past president of the Lethbridge Chamber of Commerce. Les also served as an Ambassador to the city of Lethbridge, representing the Economic Development Department. Les was the past president of the Southern Alberta Community Foundation and also a Director on the Alberta Motion Picture Board. Besides his loving wife Gert, Les is survived by three daughters: Deborah (Kevin) Caughlin of Burlington, ON, Barbara Talbot (John Martin) of Toronto, ON, and Mary (Melvin) Elliott of Winnipeg, MB; five grandchildren Tara, Tyler, Allan, Wyatt and Lindsay; as well as one great-grandson Elliott. He is predeceased by his parents Henry and Elizabeth Talbot, one daughter Elizabeth (Betty) after three years, and a sister Dorothy. A Celebration of Life will be held on Friday, January 21, 2011 at 11:00 a.m. at the McKILLOP UNITED CHURCH, 2329 - 15 Ave. South, Lethbridge, AB, followed by a Community Reception at 12:30 p.m. at the LETHBRIDGE COLLEGE BARN, 3000 College Drive South, Lethbridge, AB. All are welcome. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Les' memory to the G.L. Talbot Endowment Fund, 3000 College Drive South, Lethbridge, AB T1K 1L6. Donations may also be made in Les' memory to a charity of your choice. Funeral arrangements entrusted to Martin Bros. Funeral Chapels Lethbridge, Alberta, 1-800-382-2901

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Dec 29, 2010