Thomas P. Taylor

Known by all for his loyalty, kindness and integrity, Commander Thomas Paul Taylor, 72, of Winter Park, FL passed away on Thursday, December 27, 2007 after a brief illness. Born on October 6, 1935 at Newlyn, WV he was the son of Marguerite Thomas Taylor of Greenville, SC and the late Willis Bryant Taylor. Tom graduated from Gainesville High School in Florida and attended Jacksonville University where he played basketball. He later received degrees from the Naval Post Graduate School in Monterey, CA. During is 20 year naval career, Commander Taylor served in Vietnam as an aircraft carrier pilot, was Operations Officer of the US Naval Academy and was the Navy’s Project Officer for the bicentennial in 1976 on the USS Forrestal. Tom was honored to facilitate several presidential visits for presidents Nixon and Ford and numerous other dignitaries. After retiring in 1976 he served as Vice President of Sales for Petroleum Products, a large oil distributor in Charleston, WV. His winning personality and technical expertise rendered him an invaluable asset to both the Coal Association and the Oil Marketing Association on West Virginia. He was known as the leading industrial salesman in the southern West Virginia coalfields and served on several national councils for the various oil companies. He served as the Chairman of a Jobber Council with Shell Oil Company. As an avid golfer, Mr. Taylor helped arrange many tournaments for charity and trade associations. A sister, Elizabeth Ann Lindberg preceded him in death. In addition to his mother he is survived by a son, Thomas P. Taylor, Jr. of Charleston, SC; daughter, Jennifer Sterling of Greenville, SV; his brother, Richard P. Taylor of Oak Hill, WV and his fiancée, Ann Anderson and her family of Winter Park, FL. Four grandchildren, many aunts, uncles and cousins also survive. A memorial service will be held at 1:00 PM on Saturday, January 12, 2008 at Saint Andrew’s Episcopal Church in Oak Hill, WV.