Talitha was born 22 Dec 1926 at Perrydale, OR to Jack and Sophie (Wildt) Magel. Father Jack was a Russian immigrant who came to Oregon via Canada. Mother Sophia was the daughter of Russian immigrants who settled first in Galveston, Texas. She was born a month before the devastating Galveston Hurricane of September 1900 destroyed the island. Talitha was one of ten children born to the couple. 

They moved to the Amity area in 1911 where they farmed until September 1940 when they purchased a farm in Gervais. The family were members of the Apostolic Faith Church. Talitha graduated from Gervais High School in 1943. Her high school sweetheart Donald Nusom joined the Navy after graduation and served aboard the USS Franklin. Talitha worked at the Thomas Kay Woolen Mill from October 1946 to February 1947 alongside sisters Gladys and Rhoda. Then she took a clerk job at the State Industrial Accident Commission in Salem.  

When Donald was discharged from the Navy, he and Talitha married on 17 Oct 1947. They established D.A. Nusom Orchards and farmed for 45 years. She worked alongside Donald on the farm and later for the Gervais Post Office as a rural route carrier. They were the parents of three children. After their retirement in 1986 they became snowbirds, spending the winters at their home in Apache Junction, AZ. In April 2011 they moved into Dallas Retirement Village. 

Before retirement, Talitha loved golfing with the Woodburn Ladies Golf Club at West Woodburn Golf. She also enjoyed flowers and gardening. She died 27 April 2012 in Dallas, OR at the age of 84. She was survived by Donald and her three children. Burial took place at the Brooks Pioneer Cemetery. 

1940 Talitha Magel. Age: 13. Birth Year: abt 1927 in Oregon. Single, daughter to HOH. Home in 1940: West Amity, Yamhill, OR. Occupation: student. Additional household members: Jack Magel, age 47 (father), Sophia Magel, age 39 (mother), Rose Mary Magel, age 21 (sister), Gladys Magel, age 20 (sister), Rosa Magel, age 17 (sister), Floyd Magel, age 16 (brother), Daniel Magel, age 15 (brother), June Magel, age 12 (sister), Lucille Magel, age 10 (sister), Samuel Magel, age 8 (brother), Sylvia Magel, age 7 (sister). 

1950 Talitha N. Nusom. Age: 23. Birth Date: abt 1927 in Oregon. Married, wife to HOH. Home in 1950: Fairfield, Marion, OR. Occupation: keeping house. Additional household members: Donald A. Nusom, age 24 (husband), Donald A. Nusom Jr., age 0 (son), Jack Magel, age 58 (father), Sophia Magel, age 49 (mother), Jack Magel Jr. (brother). 

Donald Allyn Nusom Birth: 31 Mar 1926 in Gervais, Marion County, OR. Death: 22 Aug 2018 (aged 92) in Dallas, Polk County, OR. Burial: Pioneer Memorial Cemetery, Brooks, Marion County, OR. Memorial ID: 192546235 

Oregon Statesman 1 Nov 1947, p. 3 – Nusom-Magel Wedding Vows 

Oregon Statesman 23 Nov 1947, p. 12 – Wedding Photo (Talitha) 

Oregon Statesman 11 Dec 1961, p. 8 – purchase of Rubens Farm 

Oregon Statesman 19 Aug 1965, p. 10 – Roadside Business Just Grows 

Statesman Journal 4 Aug 1997, p. 24 – 50th Wedding Anniversary 

Statesman Journal 1 May 2012 – Obituary (Talitha) 

Statesman Journal 25 Mar 2015, p. A3 – Don Nusom WWII service 

Statesman Journal 28 Aug 2018, p. A3 – Obituary (Donald) 

M3 1992-101-0027a    Photo