Talbert was born in Kokomo, Indiana and grew up with four brothers, including Bob and Max. He was called "Tab" as a nickname in the family. After the Great Depression, Talbert and his brothers worked odd jobs in carpentry and on farms throughout high school in order to help their family financially. After graduating from high school, Talbert worked for Union Carbide at Haynes Stellite.

Drawn by the daring nature of the new group called the paratroopers, Talbert enlisted in the U.S. Army on 24 August 1942 at Fort Benjamin Harrison, located in Indianapolis, Indiana, and volunteered for the new group. He was assigned to Easy Company, 2nd Battalion, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division at Camp Toccoa.

He attended Indiana University after his discharge from the service and immediately accepted a position with the Union Carbide (Haynes Stellite Division in Kokomo, Indiana). He then transferred with the same organization to Alexandria, Indiana, and worked there for several years. He decided to become a full-time farmer and purchased land in that area. Later, he became a plant manager for the General Tire and Rubber Company. He also was a successful car salesman both in Indiana and California.

He settled in Redding, California, and lived there for many years. He loved to hunt and fish and he fell in love with that geographical area including Lake Shasta. Tab's move to California was prompted by a diagnosis of a terminal disease and that Tab simply decided that he wanted to spend his remaining time outdoors.

Talbert died of complications of a heart condition on 10 October 1982 in Shasta, California.