Rexford Howard Talbert

Rexford Howard Talbert, 92, passed away peacefully August 24, 2026 in Williamsburg, Va. Born December 11, 1933, in Russell County, Virginia, Rex lived a life defined by an extraordinary curiosity about the world and a lifelong desire to understand it. A graduate of Virginia Tech’s engineering program, he began his aerospace career with the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA) before the creation of NASA and went on to spend three decades working in America’s manned space program, including the Mercury and Apollo eras.

His interests reached far beyond engineering. He played minor league baseball, loved classical music and sports, and became a nationally recognized authority on herbs, particularly thyme and oregano. A longtime leader in the Herb Society of America, he wrote, lectured, researched and cultivated hundreds of varieties of herbs. Even late in life, his curiosity remained undiminished. He collaborated with botanist Dr. Arthur O. Tucker on published research examining the mysterious Voynich Manuscript.

Rex was, in the truest sense, a Renaissance man. An engineer, researcher, horticulturist, author, athlete and lifelong student, he never seemed to run out of things he wanted to learn. His interests could take him from spacecraft systems to an obscure species of thyme, from baseball to classical music, and he brought the same enthusiasm and intellectual curiosity to all of them.

Most importantly, he was also a loving father and devoted friend. He is survived by his daughter, Jennifer Adcock (Phil), and his son, Michael Talbert, extended family, and dear friends. More than any individual accomplishment, Rex leaves behind the example of a life spent remaining curious, learning, questioning, growing, discovering and sharing what he learned with others. He will always be remembered and missed.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Rex’s name, to the Herb Society of America, of which he was a lifetime member. The Herb Society of America educates and inspires people to explore the wonder and pleasure of herbs.

https://www.herbsociety.org/get-involved/hsa-support-donate-form.html