Virginians near and far celebrate life of firefighter

Danville, Virginia – At his funeral in Danville on Saturday, hometowns from all over Virginia expressed their sorrow over the loss of a public worker.

In addition to being an award-winning firefighter for his life-saving efforts, Lt. Robert Talbott was a man of his community, his family, and several communities around the Commonwealth.
After a successful eight years in Danville, he moved to Chesterfield County, which is just outside of Richmond, to serve for another twenty years.

Chief Edward Senter, Jr. of Chesterfield Fire & EMS remarked, “I am so honored to be standing here, shoulder to shoulder with our brothers and sisters from the Danville FD, as we honor Robert’s life and service.”

After a short but valiant fight against stage four lung cancer, Lt. Talbott passed away. His family, coworkers, and the lives he saved in the field are all devastated. However, those people came together for a memorial service in his hometown, where they told heartwarming tales of the courageous firefighters.

“There are a lot of people in this building who have been impacted by him,” said Bryan Shields, a former chief of the Danville Fire Department. “It’s impossible to predict how big a building would have to be if we had to fill it with the lives of the sick and injured people he touched.”

He managed to turn a bad circumstance around. One of Lt. Talbott’s coworkers in Chesterfield, Tristin Florin, remarked, “He was always making people smile.”

Kenneth Mitchell, a retired Chief from Chesterfield, described him as “just an incredible, incredible person to be around.”

Following the service, the lieutenant received a final call as the Bell of Honor rang throughout the church.

For their one and only Lt. Robert Talbott, the Chesterfield and Danville Fire Departments likewise pledged to always have a box of cookies at the station.