Obituary

Khaled (kelly) talhouk 90, of pittsburgh, pennsylvania, passed away early on july 6th, 2016.  he was born in aley lebanon, where he spent the first 29 years of his life, before immigrating to the united states where he met the love of his life julia, who was also a descendant of lebanese immigrants.  khaled brought with him the customs, traditions and values of the lebanese culture, which he and julia instilled in each of us.  he was also a fiercely patriotic man with an unwavering love for america which he risked his life for by fighting communism even before becoming a citizen of the united states.  until the day he left this earth, he pledged his love and loyalty for this country.

Khaled was born the son of a political sheik in lebanon but lost both of his parents and any privilege at an early age.    growing up in lebanon, he was adored and admired by many due to his moral character and work ethic.  he lived by a creed of always doing what was right regardless of the consequences.  he also believed that you were entitled to nothing and that you must earn your rewards through hard work and dedication.  even as a young boy growing up on his own in lebanon, his beliefs and pride would not allow him to accept help from anyone.  he often rejected food and shelter from those trying to help him, saying that he wanted “to make his own way”.  one of the ways that he supported himself was to dive for seafood each morning in the mediterranean sea where he would sell his catch to the physicians at the hospital in beirut.

In 1955, khaled immigrated to the united states at the age of 29 where he met the love of his life julia joseph.  the two were married on september 14^th of the same year.  after a short period living in lubbock texas, julia and khaled moved back to whitesville, wv where julia was born and raised.  khaled began working at the food haven super market where he worked his entire career.  his moral character, outgoing personality, brilliant smile, and contagious laugh were some of the attributes that forged many friendships and loyal customers over the years.  khaled and julia were married for fifty-eight incredible years before her passing on june 25, 2012.  since julia’s passing, not a single day went by that khaled did not dream of her.  he would tell me each day “your mom came to see me last night”.  “she had a beautiful smile on her face”.  or sometimes he would laugh and say, “she was mad as hell at me but i don’t know why”.  i truly believe that khaled would have passed four years ago if julia had not “come to see him” every night.  their marriage was one for the ages that was built off of love, respect, and admiration for one another.  with khaled’s marriage to julia, came a large family.  julia was the oldest of ten children and khaled just became the eleventh.  khaled loved julia’s family as his own and called her parents mom and dad.  and, the four years after julia’s death, he continued to talk almost daily with all of her/”his” siblings.  he would always tell me “your mom saved my life” referring to the love that he shared as part of her family and of the family that the two of them built together.  although there is an emptiness we all feel with the passing of khaled, there is much solitude and joy knowing that he is now with his beloved julia and their first son kavin whom they lost at birth.

Khaled was preceded in death by his wife julia, son, kavin, parents, bahia and nageeb talhouk, two sisters ada nakadi and damona boling, and three brothers, omar, aboudah, and mhamid talhouk.  he is survived by two sons, david talhouk of clearwater, fl. And duane talhouk of pittsburgh, pa., granddaughter, corinne talhouk of pittsburgh, pa. Grandsons, michael and andrew talhouk of clearwater, fl. And christopher talhouk of coronado, ca., great granddaughter, kylie talhouk of coronado, ca., sister-in-law, la rue joseph of baltimore, md., sister-in-law, juanita richani of bristol, tn., sisters-in-law and brother-in-laws, jeanette and michael bennett of wheelersburg, oh., fefe and ivan mccall of summerville, s.C., brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, shakeeb and alice joseph of baltimore, md., adle and connie joseph of leesburg, va., fred and reyna joseph of richmond, va., and jim and hoda joseph of charleston, w.V.

Dad, while we mourn your leaving this earth, we rejoice that you are now in heaven with mom, kavin, sitto, giddo, uncle joe and uncle nadeem.  may god bless your soul and give you peace.  until we see each other again, allah mahk “god be with you”.

Funeral service will be held at 12:00 noon, monday, july 11, 2016 at st. George’s orthodox cathedral church, charleston, wv with rev. Father stephen de young and rev. Father christopher eid officiating. Burial will follow in sunset memorial park, south charleston, wv.

Visitation will be held from 5:00 to 7:00 p.M. Sunday, july 10, 2016 with a trisagion prayer service at 7:00 p.M., at barlow bonsall funeral home, and also from 11:00 a.M. Until time of the service monday at the church.