David Shields Talkington

David Shields Talkington, beloved husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather passed away peacefully Friday March 21st, 2025 at 1:20 am surrounded by his family at home at the age of 88.
Born to Virgil and Hazel Talkington on August 24, 1936 in Shelbyville Indiana. David loved sports: football, basketball and baseball. He played basketball in his school years at Waldron Indiana. David had a natural talent for anything he did and put his mind to, so much so that John Wooden one of the greatest basketball coaches of his time came to his house, sat in his living room and asked if he would consider playing for him. David ultimately took a different path as a family man but always remembered what could have been.
His family moved to Santa Monica, Ca in his teenage years. This is where he continued his love for fishing as one of his favorite past times was to sit on the Santa Monica pier and fish. He was able to continue his love for fishing throughout his life with his bass fishing boat which he got when they moved to Madera. He always shared his love for this with his family and taught all of us how to fish and continued this passion until his health would no longer allow it.
He returned to Indiana where he met and married his wife of 69 years (almost 70) Sara Ross. They had four children, David J, Mark, Sarah and Stephen. He took schooling for heating and air conditioning as he saw a future in it and chose that as his career path.
He had a love for California and the weather here so he relocated the family to Madera California which he called home until he passed. In 1983 he started the family business of Talkington Heating and Air conditioning which operated until 2017. He had the pleasure of working with his children this whole time and making it solely a family business. He retired at the age of 81. He loved his work and the people he worked for and met along the way.
He is preceded in death by his mother Hazel, Father Virgil, Sisters Carol and Lois, brother Roland and son David J. He is survived by his wife Sara, three children, Mark, Stephen and Sarah and four grand children: Ryan, Kirsten, Scott and Stephen Jr, and three Great grandchildren, Layla, Logan and Saphira (and another on the way).
He was a kind, honest, hard working man and loved the lord. He was never ashamed to give his testimony and help steer people in the right direction when they needed it. As a Husband, Father, Grand Father and Great Grandfather he would always do whatever he could to help out in any situation he had the ability to.
You are Loved and will be very missed.
We want to thank Hinds Hospice for all the help, care and encouragement they gave. We want to thank the doctors, nurses, and caregivers from Hinds Hospice and Clovis Community. We also would like to thank all the wonderful caregivers he had at home everyday they provided amazing care. God bless you for all you gave to him in his time of need and our family.
In lieu of flowers, please donate to Hinds Hospice, Tax ID #77-0071360, 2490 W. Shaw Ave., Fresno CA 93711.
Services
Visitation
Thursday
April 3, 2025
3:00 PM to 6:00 PM
Jay Chapel, California, Madera
Graveside Service
Friday
April 4, 2025
2:00 PM
Arbor Vitae Cemetery
1301 Roberts Ave
Madera, CA 93637
Cemetery
Arbor Vitae Cemetery
1301 Roberts Ave
Madera, CA 93637 To plant a beautiful memorial tree in memory of David, please visit our Tree Store.