Don was born on January 26, 1935 in Trenton, New Jersey to Kenneth and Esther Talley. He was one of three children, with an older brother Doug, and a younger sister Jennifer. He graduated from Trenton Central High School in 1952. Subsequently, he graduated from Lehigh University, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania with a B.S. in Civil Engineering. At LEhigh, Don was a member of the Kappa Alpha Society. After graduation, Don lived for one year in Elmira, New York before moving to Southern California in 1957. He lived in Long Beach, Garden Grove, and Irvine.
Don married Beverly Dambrauckas in 1960. They had three children, Christina Lee, Steven Lane, and Jonathan Hale. Don later graduated from Talbot Theological Seminary in 1971, with an M.DIV. degree. His first wife, Beverley, died in 1987. He then married Ildiko Toth Wood in 1990. He worked in engineering positions primarily in flood control and drainage in Southern California. Don retired in 2005 and moved to Paradise, CA. After spending 10 years there, he and Ildiko moved to Lincoln, CA.
Over the last 30 years, Don’s interest included antique tools, culminating in an impressive collection which has been displayed in many venues throughout the U.S. While very accomplished in many professional endeavors, Don will be most remembered by his surviving spouse, children and family members as a loving, kind, and generous man. His gentle spirit and quick wit made him easy to love. He was loved by many and will be greatly missed.
This obituary was taken in part from the Orange County Register, published May 2, 2017.