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Wilbur S. Talbott
Incident
Game Warden Webb Talbott was killed in a vehicle crash on North Main Street in Walnut Creek, California, at about 5:45 pm.
He was returning from duty in the Delta area when his department-owned car struck a guard rail protecting a wig-wag signal at the Sacramento Northern Railway tracks.
Game Warden Talbott was a U.S. Marine Corps veteran of both WWI and WWII and was the recipient of a Purple Heart. He had served with the California California Department of Fish and Wildlife for 37 years and was scheduled to retire the following month.
Survivors
He was survived by two brothers.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
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- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Also honored at salute.nw — U.S. Marine Corps. One record, 2 gates. Wilbur is one person.
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Tributes
I served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Game Warden Talbott gave the California Department of Fish and Wildlife 37 years.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Wilbur S. Talbott served in the U.S. Marine Corps before joining law enforcement.
The Sacrifice · Accident
California Department of Fish and Wildlife has lost 17 officers; 8 of them lost to accidents.
Wilbur is one of 720 officers lost to accidents in CA, 39.2% of the 1,839 remembered there.
Wilbur is one of 8,276 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% of the 27,552 remembered there.
Wilbur is one of 10,096 officers lost to accidents worldwide, 29.6% of the 34,103 remembered here.
34,103 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1962, 1 officer at California Department of Fish and Wildlife was lost to accidents, the 2nd heaviest of 7 years on record. The heaviest was 1984, with 2.
In 1962, 10 officers in CA were lost to accidents, the 10th heaviest of 128 years on record. The heaviest was 1969, with 14.
In 1962, 69 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 51st heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.
In 1962, 80 officers worldwide were lost to accidents, the 57th heaviest of 200 years on record. The heaviest was 1930, with 131.
Who
Wilbur was 61. Of the 8 lost to accidents at California Department of Fish and Wildlife whose age is recorded, half were between 38.3 and 60.3; the middle age was 48.5. Wilbur had served 37 years; the middle length of service was 14.5 years.
Wilbur was 61. Of the 690 lost to accidents in CA whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 42.8; the middle age was 35. Wilbur had served 37 years; the middle length of service was 7 years.
Wilbur was 61. Of the 7,718 lost to accidents in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 46; the middle age was 36. Wilbur had served 37 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Wilbur was 61. Of the 9,452 lost to accidents worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 45; the middle age was 36. Wilbur had served 37 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
January holds 12.5% of these deaths at California Department of Fish and Wildlife; October holds the most, 37.5%. Sundays: 12.5%.
January holds 9.3% of these deaths in CA; August holds the most, 9.4%. Sundays: 13.9%.
January holds 7.7% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.4%. Sundays: 14%.
January holds 8.1% of these deaths worldwide; August holds the most, 9.3%. Sundays: 14%.
How
Accident deaths account for 47.1% of all 17 deaths at California Department of Fish and Wildlife, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 39.2% of all 1,839 deaths in CA, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 30% of all 27,552 deaths in the United States, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 29.6% of all 34,103 deaths worldwide, the 2nd most common cause.
His people
California Department of Fish and Wildlife has 17 officers remembered here, Wilbur among them.
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Bert Blanchard
Feb 2, 1913
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Ernest Raynaud
Apr 16, 1913
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George Jackson Rodolph Nov 29, 1914
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Raymond B. Heacock Dec 11, 1916
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Richard Squire
Dec 12, 1916
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James S. White Oct 17, 1923
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George Thompson Sep 1, 1928
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Alan G. Curry Apr 30, 1930
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Walter K. Krukow
Apr 20, 1947
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Arthur L. Stager Oct 28, 1948
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Clarence Lester Brown
Apr 3, 1959
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Wilbur S. Talbott
Jan 14, 1962
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Paul Steven Smith
Dec 19, 1970
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Jean King Jones, Jr.
May 14, 1979
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Leon Harvey Nelson Oct 27, 1979
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Robert Allen Flynt May 11, 1984
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Roy John Reed
Jun 7, 1984
Where
Military Service
Wilbur S. Talbott served in the U.S. Marine Corps before joining law enforcement.
Visit Wilbur S. Talbott’s page on salute.nw →
His full service record — units, decorations, where he served — is kept on salute.nw.
Where the Name Is Cut
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Also Remembered
Others Who Wore This Badge
16 officers from California Department of Fish and Wildlife are honored on badge.nw.
