Wayne Eldon Talburt

Funeral services for Wayne Eldon Talburt, 62, Sycamore, Missouri, will be held at 1:00 p.m., Wednesday, December 1, 2021 at First Freewill Baptist Church, under the direction of Robertson-Drago Funeral Home.

Mr. Talburt passed away at 2:52 p.m., Friday, November 26, 2021, at Cox Medical Center South, Springfield, Missouri.

He was born February 14, 1959, at Mountain View, Missouri, to Amos Talburt and Lavada Dixon Talburt. On August 11, 1992, he married to Ramona Cline. Mr. Talburt graduated from Willow Springs High School in 1977, received a Bachelor of Science degree from College of the Ozarks in 1981, majoring in Criminal Justice, Corrections and Sociology, and earned a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from Missouri State University Springfield in 1993. He worked for the Missouri State Water Patrol beginning in January of 1981, and retired in July of 2016 at the rank of Lieutenant. During his work as a public servant, he served as the following: dive team supervisor, dive team instructor, academy instructor, and criminal investigations instructor. He had numerous teaching experiences during his service: Missouri State Water Patrol Dive Team instructor, National Association of State Boating Law Administrators, Missouri State Water Patrol Academy, Missouri State Highway Patrol Academy, Missouri State Conservation Department Academy, St. Charles Police Academy. Professional certifications include: P.O.S.T. Certified Generalist Instructor, F.B.I. Law Enforcement Instructor Development, P.A.D.I. Master Scuba Diver Instructor, First Responder instructor, Defensive Tactics and Physical Fitness Specialist Instructor, and 8 Course Certifications for FEMA and Homeland Security; Honors and Awards: National Silver Finn Award (Highest award a dive team can internationally win), Missouri Peace Officers Association Officer of the Year, Missouri State Water Patrol Meritorious Service Citation and Colonels Commendation, for putting his life in perilous danger the Missouri State Highway Patrol Lifesaving Award, State Employee of the Month Award, National Association of Boating Law Administrators State Officer of the Year, Governor’s Achievement Award, Red Cross Volunteer of the Year, and the 1980 National Man of the Year Award. Other Accomplishments include: College of the Ozarks Associates Board- 2015 to present, Member of the Missouri State Water Patrol Underwater Recovery Team for 26 year with the last 16 of those years as supervisor, Dora School Board from 2000 to 2006.

In his personal life Mr. Talburt attended Dora Family Life Church, and was a strong man of faith, Jesus Christ was most important to him. Wayne raised his boys to be Godly men. He loved his family, and especially his wife, Ramona. Wayne mowed yards and took care of the local widows. Wayne was the backbone of the family. He loved his water patrol brothers as if they where family. He enjoyed reading, diving, spending time with family, and loved taking in the beauty of the Ozarks. Wayne felt that diving was what God created him to do to provide comfort and closure to the surviving families by recovering and praying over the body of their loved one. Wayne saw his job as a witness of Christ. It is because of his dedication of having God in his job that Wayne was referenced throughout the nation for law enforcement advice, and his dive team was one of three dive teams in the nation to be called upon by homeland security in times of disaster.

He is survived by his wife, Ramona Talburt, of the family home; three children, Grant Talburt and wife Clancy of West Plains, Seth Talburt and wife Kirsten of Ava, Missouri, and Susan Howard and husband Ronnie of Dora, Missouri; his mother, Lavada Talburt, West Plains; father-in-law, Danny Cline, West Plains; two brothers, Hal Talburt of West Plains and Rad Talburt wife Joanne of Doniphan, Missouri; brother-in-law, Scott Cline and wife Tina; sister-in-law, Monica Tate and husband Brandon; several nieces and nephews that he loved dearly, Elissa Tate, Madison Cline, Caleb Cline, Shayne Talburt and wife Stephanie, Bryce Talburt and wife Shelby.

His father Amos, sister Sondra Talburt, and mother-in-law Donna Cline, preceded him in death.

Visitation will be held from 11:00 a.m., to 1:00 P.M. Burial site will be at Huddleston Cemetery of Royal Oak, MO. Memorial contributions may be made to College of the Ozarks and may be left at or mailed to Robertson-Drago Funeral Home, 211 West Main, West Plains, MO 65775.