Florence Iffland Tallmadge, a life time Wilton resident aged 98, passed away Saturday, May 16th at Norwalk Hospital after a short illness. She is survived by her son Lyle Tallmadge Jr, his wife Heidi and their 3 sons John, Brian and Christopher as well as a daughter Linda Tallmadge Mitchell, her husband Jack and their 4 sons, Russell, Bob, Todd and Andrew. She adored all their spouses, Kathryn, Karen, Isaac and Bree. In addition she had the utter joy of being an enormous part of the lives of her beloved 7 Great Grand Children, Lyle, Dana, Elizabeth, Bob, Lauren, Kathleen and Ryan.
Born in Brooklyn, N.Y. on November 28th, 1916, she moved out to Wilton as a young girl. Her Father decided to become a chicken farmer, choosing Wilton to build a home on Sharp Hill Road. It is there she lived her entire life.
She was one of the last living students who attended the one-room school house on Hurlbutt Street (now a historic site) with the famed Ms. Angeline Post as her teacher. It was there she met her husband Lyle Tallmadge. She recounted many memories to her family at a surprise visit to the school for her 98th birthday.
After the birth of their first child, she and her husband ran the original Orem’s diner for several years, he as the cook and she as the waitress. Later she worked at the Wilton Department Store and eventually purchased it from the Barry family. The store was renamed Tallmadge's. A hard worker all her life, she worked there until her mid 80s when the business closed in 2002.
Commonly known as Flo, Gran, or Tilly she embodied a joy for life always enjoying rousing games of cards with her grandsons and great grand children or a beer while watching her beloved Yankees. Always a giver, she lead a positive life filled with laughter and joy. She will be deeply missed by all.
The family will have a private celebration of her life, followed by a burial next to her husband. In lieu of flowers or donations, in her true spirit, stop and make someone else smile today and everyday….that was Flo’s special magic.