William L. “Bill” Talkington, age 88 of New Martinsville, passed away peacefully in his sleep on Wednesday, October 11, 2023, at New Martinsville Health and Rehab Center. He was born November 26, 1934, in Wetzel County, son of the late Percy Dorman and Donah (Hayes) Talkington. Bill was a proud veteran of the US Marine Corp during the Korean Conflict. He was the owner and operator of Talkington’s Gun Shop for 55 years. For 41 years he taught WV Hunter Education classes. He was a BB gun instructor for young shooters. He also was an Air Rifle instructor who trained 12 shooters that qualified for Olympic Training. He was a competitive Trap Shooter in the 1970’s with his sons, Jon and Percy. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife of 66 years, Beulah (Nice) Talkington in 2021; a son Jon Ellis Talkington in 2014; sister, Martha Jane Graff; brother Eugene Talkington. Bill is survived by two children, Percy (Debbie) Talkington of New Martinsville and Belinda (Brad Bennett) Talkington, of Martinsburg, WV; four grandchildren, Jon Michael Talkington of New Martinsville, Ted (Katie) Talkington of Minneapolis, MN, Rachel (Matt) Kocher of Bridgeport, WV, Katy (Jeremy) Roush of, Asheville, NC; sister-in-law Fala Nice Johnson of New Matamoras, OH; nine great grandchildren, Ivy and Lydia Talkington, Jocelynn, Kendall, and Braxton Kocher, Nolan, Everett, and Ada Roush, and Chance Weigle; dear neighbors, Scott, Liz and Jason Hartman and “The Girls” at The Court Restaurant. Family will receive friends on Friday, October 13, 2023, from 2-4 and 6-8 pm at Grisell Funeral Home & Crematory, 751 Third Street, New Martinsville.
Below is an article featured on the WVATA Website in 2019
Bill Talkington accompanied by Beulah, his wife, made an appearance Sunday along his honors Shooting vest and a picture showing his many trophies and awards.
In 2016 Bill and Beulah Talkington from New Martinsville, were nominated as a TEAM and as individuals for their dedication and commitment to the West Virginia Hunter Education program. They have taught Hunter Safety since 1968 and for over 41 years in New Martinsville, Wetzel County, WV offering both spring and fall classes, making nearly 4000 student hunters safer in the woods and range. Both as team leaders, have conducted 95 classes. Beulah, with 9,274 hours of instruction and Bill with 8,571 hours. Being life members of the NRA, they conducted air rifle classes for over twelve consecutive years and developed Air Rifle Teams that had national winners of the WV Air Rifle Teams at West Virginia University. One of their students was selected to Ohio State University Rifle team. Bill also, as an extension of their gun shop ran a trap range, teaching shooters how to be their best. Beulah taught BB Gun safety classes for several years for the area Cub Scout Camps. Bill has been a former WVHEA State Volunteer Instructor of the Year. He has set the standards for young hunters and shooters for his accolades in competition shooting for the NRA in all aspects of shooting; Muzzleloader, Rifle, Rimfire and Shotguns. They have both recruited many new instructors through their own team and encouraging others by their commitment to the Hunter safety Program. Bill has been the firearms dealer for the Lewis-Wetzel chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation for over 20 years and the firearms dealer for the area MOOSE Lodge. Bill was also inducted into the WV Wild turkey Hall of Fame for his work with youth. Bill and Beulah were teaching Hunter Safety before the WV DNR set-up official classes.
These are only a few of the reasons they were nominated for the WVHEHOF.
Bill Talkington:
· Hall of Fame Amateur Trapshooting Association
· NWTF member
· NRA Life member
Beulah Talkington:
· State Recognition, WV Wildlife Federation
· 4-H Shooting Sports, for work with youth
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