John Talanian

John Talanian, a WWII veteran, was born on March 19, 1924 in Rhode Island to two Armenian refugees and loving parents. He also had two younger sisters, Ardie and Betty. Growing up he enjoyed math and new technology that was coming about at the time.
At the age of 17, John had just graduated high school and was ready for college. Although the military was not his main interest, he would be drafted once he turned eighteen. Instead of looking at it in a negative light, he thought about all he could could learn from the military. After all, his father had fought in WWI and like his father, he wanted to do whatever was necessary to serve his country. He took it into his own hands and wrote to the academy requesting more information. John's father did not want his son going to war and re-living everything he had in the past but John was adamant about serving his country and being as rebellious as he was, he decided he was going to join the Air Force. John served 3 years in the air force and when finished with that, he decided to travel the world; he lived in many countries and learned 5 languages. Germany was one of the countries he lived in for 10 years, learning about the culture and meeting many different people.
Upon his arrival back in the states he took up hobbies and even found employment in some of them including being a caddy for Desi Arnaz (Ricky Ricardo on "I Love Lucy") and horse racing. Some time after, John met Ines, whom he fell in love with and married. Ines was a single mother to a daughter, Miriam, and although John never had children of his own, he considered Miriam his daughter. Miriam later had two daughters of her own and became a single mother after separating from her husband. It was difficult but John and his wife were always there to lend a hand and take care of their new grandchildren. The girls grew up knowing and loving John as their only grandfather. He would teach them about horses, golf, and took them on different adventures whenever there was an opportunity.
Once John and his wife could no longer care for each other or themselves they moved from their long-time residence in Las Vegas to Van Nuys in California with Miriam and her two daughters. John lived there happily with his family until the day God decided to call him to his side on November 21, 2015.
I am Miriam's oldest daughter and I speak for all of us when I say we loved John so very much and he was our big baby; We already miss him so much and his absence is strongly felt. The only thing that keeps us going now is knowing that he lived a long life and he lived it to the fullest. He left his wife, daughter,and grandkids behind but is now protecting us from above where he no longer suffers and is reunited with the ones he loved that have passed.