Pamela Osterloh Talkington, loving wife to Gilbert James Talkington and wonderful mother to five beautiful children, passed away peacefully on the morning of October 2, 2023, at the age of 70. Pam was diagnosed with Small Cell Carcinoma on June 20, 2022. Although the cancer aggressively spread to her brain earlier this year, she remained positive and upbeat to the end and was an inspiration to all.

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Pam was born on January 21, 1953, in Salt Lake City, Utah. She grew up in the Salt Lake City area, as well as Lava Hot Springs, Idaho. While living in Lava, Pam owned three horses, which she loved dearly, Tonka, Kokomo, and Katie. She attended Skyline High School in Salt Lake City and graduated in 1971. Upon graduation, Pam and her baby daughter Kirsten moved to San Diego to manage a new apartment complex with her father. It was there that she rented an apartment to Gil, the love of her life, eternal companion, and lifelong best friend.

Gil and Pam were married February 16, 1973, in the Salt Lake Temple. After Gil graduated from Brigham Young University, Pam and her family embarked on an Air Force career that would enable them to see distant parts of the world and live in many locations.

After eight years of assignments on the mainland, her family moved across the Pacific to the tiny island of Guam. Pam loved the island life, warm sunny beaches, and the people there; she even loved the Typhoons. After two years on Guam, the family moved to a much larger island, where they were stationed at Hickam AFB, Hawaii. The assignment to Hawaii was definitely Pam’s favorite place to live!

After Gil’s retirement from the Pentagon in 1993, the family moved into their current home in Sandy, Utah. She loved her home, her neighbors, and the view of the beautiful mountains behind her home. Pam made every house her family lived in seem like it was a permanent home, whether it was for nine months, four years, or over 30 years. She loved to decorate her homes with paintings, photographs, and many items she crafted herself.

She had many hobbies to include tole painting, making bracelets and other jewelry, photography, and jig saw puzzles. She was an avid reader and always had a book to read on her Kindle. Pam loved to have music playing in the home and enjoyed playing the piano. She especially enjoyed designing and making things for the home, to include completely designing the remodel of our current home’s kitchen.

Pam always had a very soft and tender heart for all animals. She was a true champion for any and all abused animals. She earned her Veterinary Technician Degree and worked as a Vet Tech. She had many dogs throughout her life, but especially loved the Boxer breed and gave seven beautiful boxers a wonderful home, including her last boxer Lakota, who she rescued from abusive owners.

Pam loved to participate in all sports. She especially excelled in swimming, horseback riding, and enjoyed walking long distances. Always wanting to try new things, she earned her Yellow Belt in Karate.

Pam and Gil were happily married for over 50 years. She loved being a mother and faithfully attended any and all of her children’s school and athletic activities, to include watching her children play soccer in Hawaii. There was no greater joy for Pam than to be at her sons’ or daughters’ soccer or baseball games, track meets, school activities, or to be in the Temple with her family together. Seeing her children go on missions, marry in the Temple, and have their own families were sources of great happiness for Pam, as were the numerous family dinners.

Pam was a faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, having a firm testimony of our Savior Jesus Christ. She served in many callings including six years as a Church Service Missionary at the LDS Conference Center in Salt Lake City, where she loved serving together with Gil. She also served as Primary and Young Women’s President, Relief Society Counselor, Sunday School Teacher, and Librarian.

Pam is survived by her loving husband, Gil; children Kirsten Wilson, Jared Talkington (Tamie), Kaylie Smith (Damon), Justin Talkington, and Kara Bankhead (Scott); 18 grandchildren, 3 great-grandchildren, brother Doug Saunders (Charlotte), sister Alana Oldenburg, sister-in-law Janice Lewis (David), brother-in-law Scott Talkington (Suzanne), and brother-in-law Albert Talkington. She is preceded in death by her beloved Rose "Rosie" Braeger, her father, Fred E. Osterloh, and mother, Carolyn W. Hayward.

Funeral services will be at 12:00 PM, Saturday, October 21st at the Union 4th Ward, 1834 East 7995 South, Sandy, UT. A Viewing will be held prior to the Funeral from 10:00 AM to 11:45 AM, as well as Friday, October 20, from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM. Both viewings will be held at the Union 4th Ward Building. Interment will be at Wasatch Lawn Memorial Park, 3401 South Highland Drive, Salt Lake City.