Sonja Leah (Mobberly) Tallman
Sonja Leah (Mobberly) Tallman, age 80, passed away on January 3, 2026 at her residence in Williamstown WV. She was born on April 16, 1945 in Marietta, Ohio and was the younger daughter of the late Chauncey Vernon Mobberly and June Rose (Weckbacher) Mobberly.
Sonja graduated from New Matamoras High School with the class of 1963. During her elementary, junior high and high school years at New Matamoras, Sonja played alto saxophone in concert- and marching band. She continued her education at Ohio Valley Hospital School of Nursing in Steubenville, Ohio where she graduated in 1966 as a Registered Nurse. Sonja began her career at WVU Hospital in Morgantown WV. But she was a hometown girl who missed her family/friends and returned ‘home’ where she enjoyed a 20-year+ career at Marietta Memorial Hospital (Third Floor).
Sonja (lovingly nicknamed “Sonnie”) spent her childhood/teenage years growing up at the historic Yellow House in the New Matamoras Ohio area in a simpler, safer world than the one we know today. No cellphones, computers, or Facebook.
As a child, Sonja was raised by loving parents who were wonderful role models to their two daughters and were surely the reason Sonja grew up to be the kindest, most considerate lady you’d ever want to meet. She truly put others first and treated everyone with the utmost respect. When friends would ask Sonja how she was doing, she would give a short reply then quickly add “but enough about me, tell me what you’ve been doing”. Sonja also had the cutest sense of humor and brought joy to whomever she was with (whether it was a close friend, doctor, lawyer, store clerk, or a stranger who needed a smile).
Sonja’s love of teddy bears began when she was a toddler, and she continued to love/collect teddy bears throughout her entire life. When she was a child, if she saw a teddy bear with a missing eye (or a crooked eye) that’s the one she chose since she felt it needed a home more than the perfect ones. Later in life, Sonja also developed a love for Donkeys and Black Bears.
She had many artistic talents including sewing and creating beautifully-crafted household decor, tote bags, and quilts (which were given as gifts to her friends/family). She was an avid crafter and enjoyed designing personalized cards for birthdays and other special occasions.
Sonja loved the many dogs and cats who were considered family members of the Mobberlys when she was growing up, so naturally she was destined to become a lifelong animal lover. Sonja always adopted stray dogs or those from the shelter and was a fantastic ‘dog momma’ to Rags, Mandy, Abby, Annie, and Tori Rose.
Sonja is survived by her husband, Robert Tallman, whom she married on May 31, 1985. She is also survived by her sister/soulmate Sharon (Les) Paul, Marietta Ohio; cousins Nancy Mikes, Norma Jean (Keith) Thomas; Cheryl (John) Apazeller; and Mike (Linda) Cline; stepson Rob (April) Tallman; stepdaughter Joy Tallman; sisters-in-law Linda DeHaven and Shirley (Tom) Hardbarger. She was preceded in death by her grandparents Errett Gale Mobberly and Millia Letha (Cline) Mobberly; George Edward Weckbacher and Florence Victoria (Wallace) Weckbacher.
Sonja was a member of First United Methodist Church in Williamstown WV where she was blessed with cherished friends that she treasured and loved.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Sonja’s memory to The Humane Society of the Ohio Valley, 90 Mount Tom Road, Marietta OH 45750 or First United Methodist Church, 304 West Fifth Street, Williamstown WV 26187 or the charity of your choice.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 am on Friday (Jan. 9) at McClure-Schafer-Lankford Funeral Home, 314 Fourth Street, Marietta OH with entombment following at East Lawn Memorial Park. Friends may call at the funeral home on Thursday from 2-4 and 6-8. Messages of sympathy may be sent to www.lankfordfh.com.