Ernest W. “Walt” Taillon, 89, of Manville died Sunday morning at Hope Hospice & Palliative Care in Providence. He was the loving husband of Annette I. (Turenne) Taillon. They were married on January 10, 1948.
Born in Woonsocket he was a son of the late Elphege and Rose (Frenette) Taillon. He was a resident of Manville for most of his life.
Mr. Taillon served in the U.S. Navy during both WWII and the Korean War. During his naval service he received the National Defense Service Medal, WWII Victory Medal and the Asiatic-Pacific Area and American Area Medals. A Fireman 1st Class he was made a member of the Imperial Domain of the Golden Dragon.
Walt’s career with HP Hood & Sons spanned over 37 year of service to the company. By the time of his retirement in 1989 he was rightly called the Retail and Wholesale Salesperson Extraordinaire.
Walt was a lifelong communicant of St. James Parish. He was the last living charter member of the Alphonse Yelle Post 9 American Legion in Manville. He volunteered his time as a Cub and Boy Scout leader.
Any and all family activities were at the center of Walt’s life. A robust man throughout his life and well into his retirement years he enjoyed numerous adventures including nationwide travel in his motor home, worldwide travel to many overseas destinations, tennis, billiards, horse shoes and going to the beach just to name of few.
In addition to his wife of over 68 years he is survived by his children Jeanne B. Fortier and her husband, Richard A. Fortier, of Woonsocket, Ronald Taillon and his former wife, Claire, of Lincoln, Walter N. Taillon and his wife, Lisa, of Delaware and David R. Taillon and his wife, Deborah, of East Providence. He was the father of the late Robert L. Taillon who died in 1977 and Nancy A. Taillon-Vanasse who died in 2006. Five grandchildren Michelle Beauchesne, Michael Fortier, Andrea, Olivia and Stephanie Taillon, three great-grandchildren Zachary and Nathaniel Fortier and Christopher Beauchesne. He was the brother of Rene Taillon and Loraine Landry and the late Gerard, Lionel, Albert, George, William and Normand Taillon, Lea Desplaines, Rita Smith, Jeannette Sjoblom and Irene Taillon. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews and their families.
His funeral will be Thursday at 9:00 am from the Menard-Lacouture Funeral Home, 127 Carrington Ave. Woonsocket followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00 am in St. James Church, Division St. Manville. Burial with military honors will follow in St. James Cemetery. Visiting hours are Wednesday from 4-8 pm. In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to St. James Parish, 33 Division St. Manville, RI. 02838.