Harry Leslie Talley, 80, long-time resident of Wheaton, IL and a resident of Green Valley, Arizona since 1995, died Wednesday, December 6, 2006. He was born January 7, 1926, in Kansas City, Missouri, the only child of Harry Luther and Emily Campbell Talley who preceded him in death. His childhood was spent on the family farm near Pleasant Hill, Missouri, where he was graduated as Salutatorian of his high school class of 1943.

During World War II, Harry was selected for the Navy V-12 Officers Training program and was stationed at Louisiana Tech and Duke University. Upon graduation from the University of Kansas in 1948, he was commissioned an Ensign in the Supply Corps, U.S. Naval Reserve. He was recalled to Navy active duty during the Korean War. He remained in the active reserves and retired in 1966 with the rank of Lieutenant Commander.

In 1948, he had entered civilian employment as a Management Trainee with Sears-Roebuck, Kansas City, Missouri. January 1957, Harry became the Business Manager of the University of Sioux Falls, Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and in 1965, he assumed the same position at Olivet College, Olivet, Michigan. In 1968, he joined the administrative staff of Wheaton College, Wheaton, Illinois and retired in 1986.

He was a member of The College Church in Wheaton for 27 years and sang in the Chancel Choir. In Green Valley, he was a member and Elder of the Evangelical Free Church. He had membership in the Sons of the American Revolution and was a twenty year member of Rotary International.

Harry enjoyed the beauty and variety he found in nature, from the birds he knew and the songs they sang, to the many types of plants he tended. He loved working in the soil of his flower beds. As a retiree, Harry visited most of the National Parks. He had a great interest in family history and did extensive genealogical research, assisting his wife in writing several volumes of family history. Harry will be remembered for his attentiveness and kindness to others. He had a ready smile with a keen wit, reflected by a twinkle in his eyes. He was intellectually curious, an eternal optimist and earned the remembrance as a Christian gentleman.

He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Toveylou Sessions Talley, a daughter, Susan (Paul) Brinkman of Wheaton, IL and two sons, John (Beth) Talley of Newark, IL and Dr. Stephen (Pam) Talley of Bend, OR; six grandchildren: William and David Brinkman of Wheaton; Emily (Peter) Slayton, Christian (Nicole) Talley, and Leslie Talley, all of Newark, IL; McKenzie Talley of Bend, OR; as well as three great-granddaughters: Anika and Britta Slayton, and Ava Talley of Newark, Illinois.

Graveside services will be held at 11:00a.m. on Friday, December 15, 2006 at the Helmar Lutheran Church, Newark, IL. A memorial visitation will be held from 9:30 A.M. until the time of a memorial service at 10:30 A.M. on Saturday, December 16, at College Church in Wheaton, 332 E. Seminary Ave. in Wheaton. A second memorial service will be held January 6, 2007 at the Evangelical Free Church, in Green Valley, AZ.

Memorials may be given to: (1) The Evangelical Free Church, Land Purchase Fund, 1393 W. Mission Twin Buttes Road, Green Valley, AZ 85614; (2) The College Church in Wheaton, 332 E. Seminary, Wheaton, IL 60187; (3) Wheaton College, 501 College Avenue, Wheaton, IL 60187.