Floyd William Talbot, 87, of Geneseo, went to be with his Lord and Savior on Saturday, March 26, 2011, at his home surrounded by his family. Funeral services celebrating his life will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, April 1, at First Baptist Church, Geneseo. Visitation was also held at the church Thursday, March 31. Burial will be in Oakwood Cemetery, Pastor Joe Kobernat will conduct the services with Stackhouse-Moore Funeral Home, Geneseo, assisting the family. Memorials may be made to First Baptist Church Building Fund.

He was born Oct. 17, 1923, the son of Edith Pearl (Mead) and Claude Everett Talbot in East Moline, where he attended his first school days. After the death of his mother, his father married Edna Mae Blackledge and the family moved to rural Geneseo. His further education was received at Hanna Center School. He assisted his father in farming until October 1944 when he married Betty Erdman. They established their home on a farm in Edford Township, living there for over 50 years and later retiring to reside in Geneseo. He accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior in May 1942. He was baptized and became a member of the First Baptist Church of Geneseo, where he served faithfully as a Sunday school teacher and deacon. He was an employee of John Deere, retiring in 1982, after 27 years of faithful service. His hobbies included farming, gardening, hunting, watching his children and grandchildren’s sports events, and spending time with his family. He followed the Geneseo football program and enjoyed the outdoors. He was a devoted husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather, who led by example. He left a Godly heritage and will be greatly missed. He treasured his friendships, whether lifelong or recent, and touched the lives of many.

Survivors include his wife of 66 years, Betty; his eight children  and spouses, Bonnie and Bruce Stine of Geneseo, Kathy and Mike Johnson of Prophetstown, Bill and Tammy Talbot of Concho, Ariz., Cindy and Roger Clayton of Lyndon, Penny and Tony Haynes of Buffalo, Wyo., Randy Talbot of West Union, Iowa, Tom and Nancy Talbot of Johnsburg, and Kristi and John Fisher of Geneseo; 18 grandchildren; five step grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; six step great-grandchildren; a brother, Rev. Eugene Talbot of Creve Coeur, and a sister, Loy Anne Stottler of St. Petersburg, Fla. He was preceded in death by his parents, nine siblings, and three grandchildren.