Leland McMahon Talbot III "OC Chef" and "Chef Lee" age 72 of Millville, DE passed away on the evening of September 20, 2016. Lee passed away after a four year battle with terminal cancer.

Lee was born December 21, 1943 in Annapolis, MD. He was the second child of five and the only son of Leland and May Talbot.

Lee graduated from Annapolis High School in 1961 and remained in the area for the next twenty years before moving to Ocean city in 1981. He attended George Washington University studying law before he discovered his love of food and began his career in cooking. Lee graduated from The American Culinary Federation and The National Chef Association in 1979. He worked at the Ramada Inn in Lanham, MD from 1975 to 1980 then went on to work at The National Republican Club in Washington, DC from 1980 to 1981. He felt something was missing so he moved to the beach. Lee went on to work at The Sheridan Fontainebleau Inn and Spa in Ocean City, MD from 1981 to 1984. He then became Executive Chef at The Wharf Restaurant in Ocean City, Md. from 1987 to 1992. He worked as Executive chef at The Carousel Hotel and Resort until 1994, he then worked at Tom and Terry's on Fenwick Island until retiring in 2002.

Lee had a love for music, especially the blues, and in the early sixties, this led him to a small recording studio and the Development of Music Research Inc. producers of Bullfrog and Piedmont Records where he acted as secretary treasurer. Lee and his friend Tom Haskins, in their research, tracked down Mississippi John Hurt and brought him up from Avalon, MS to play at the Ontario Place in Washington, DC.

Lee was also an avid reader of anything science fiction or mystery with an extensive collection of over 30,000 books. Lee and his son Robert were avid Nationals fans and rarely missed a game together. "Go Nats!"

Most of all Lee loved his family, the company and joy of good people, and the peace and quiet of life in Sussex County.

Lee was preceded in death by his father Leland McMahon Talbot Jr, his mother May Lucille Hassell Talbot, and one sister Betty Ann Talbot.

He is survived by his son Robert Leland Talbot of Millville, De, three sisters Edna Talley of Goldsboro, MD, Cindy Cadogan (David) of Pasadena, MD and Patty Robles of Mechanicsville, MD, twelve nieces and nephews Lyn, Jay, Debbie, Cathy, Beth, Gus, Stephanie, Andrew, Sunni, Lee, Heather and Emily, and numerous grand and great grand nieces and nephews.

A gathering of family and friends will be held on Wednesday, October 5, 2016 at the Ocean View Chapel of Melson Funeral Services, 38040 Muddy Neck Road, Ocean View, DE 19970 from 5-7pm. There will be a celebration of life scheduled at a later date.

In lieu of flowers the family asks that donations be made to the American Cancer Society.