Eugene Talbot

CREVE COEUR - The Rev. Eugene A. Talbot, 83, a resident and former mayor of Creve Coeur, passed away at 1:26 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2015, at OSF Saint Francis Medical Center in Peoria.

Born Aug. 9, 1931, in Moline to Claude Everett and Edna (Blackledge) Talbot, he married Betty Maxine Loftin on March 7, 1953, in Santa Barbara, Calif. She survives.

Also surviving are two sons, the Rev. Ronald (Sandra) Talbot of Creve Coeur and the Rev. Dale (Donna) Talbot of Colona; one daughter, Cheryl (Michael) Parker of Dillon, Colo.; 12 grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; and one sister, Loyann Stottler of Florida.

He was preceded in death by his parents, eight brothers and two sisters.

He was a United States Army veteran of the Korean War and served as a combat medic.

A graduate of Western Apostolic Bible College in Stockton, Calif., Gene was a minister of the United Pentecostal Church International for 48 years. He served as pastor of Christian Life Church in Creve Coeur from 1971 until retiring in 2001. He then continued to serve his church as pastor emeritus. He previously had served the United Pentecostal Church as a traveling Home Missions evangelist from 1967 to 1969 and as pastor in Kerman, Calif., from 1969 to 1971. He and his wife founded the Creve Coeur Christian Academy in 1977, which is now known as Christian Life Academy. Gene also enjoyed working new and remodeling construction and for past six years, Gene enjoyed working as a greeter at the Pekin Wal-Mart. He also had farmed in Henry County until 1957.

Along with serving the Village of Creve Coeur as mayor for one term, Gene was presently serving his third term as a village trustee. He also had volunteered for 25 years on the Creve Coeur Fire Department and Rescue and was a former chaplain, assistant fire chief and rescue captain. He had worked as an Emergency Medical Technician for B&B Ambulance Service for more than 10 years and then for Advanced Medical Transport for several years.

Gene enjoyed woodworking, hunting both elk and deer and motorcycle riding up until recent years.

He was a member of the Creve Coeur American Legion Post 1234.

His funeral will be at 11 a.m. Thursday, March 5, 2015, at Christian Life Church in Creve Coeur. The Rev. Samuel Latta, the Rev. Ronald Talbot and the Rev. Dale Talbot will officiate. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at the church. Burial will be at 2 p.m. Thursday at Camp Butler National Cemetery in Springfield, with military rites accorded by the United States Army and the Interveterans Burial Detail of Sangamon County.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Preston-Hanley Funeral Homes & Crematory in Creve Coeur.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Christian Life Ministries, 129 S. Highland Ave., Creve Coeur, IL 61610.

To express condolences online, visit www.preston-hanley.com.