Thomas F. Taylor

Staff Sergeant Thomas Frederick Taylor (USAF Ret), beloved husband, father, and friend, was called home into the arms of the Lord on Friday, February 16, 2018, at the Louis Stokes Wade Park VA Medical Center in Cleveland, Ohio.

Thomas was born to parents Lawrence William and Laura-Lina (Douffer) Taylor in Middleport, Ohio on January 11, 1931.

Thomas comes from a family of men and women who proudly served their country. His father, Lawrence, fought in the first World War, and his older brothers and an aunt served in the second World War. Following in their footsteps, Thomas enlisted in the US Army Air Corps in 1947, at age sixteen.

While in the service, he completed two years of college and traveled the world, serving in England, France, Germany, and Japan, as well as numerous posts in the US, becoming proficient in five different languages. Throughout his career, Thomas served as a civil engineer, as well as a missile-man on duty during the Cuban Missile Crisis. Thomas received a number of awards including the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award, the Air Force Longevity Service Award, the National Defense Service Medal, the Army of Occupation Japan, and numerous Good Conduct medals.  He retired from the US Air Force in 1977.

In 1975, Thomas met the love of his life, Rosemary Oscar, in West Virginia, and they were subsequently wed in 1976. They have one daughter, Frances.

Thomas held a variety of jobs after retiring from the Air Force, including restaurant cook, a bear-hunting guide, racing horse trainer, cab driver, and owned and operated several businesses, including a bar, a video-game arcade, and a private courier/transportation company.  When he wasn't working hard to take care of his family, Thomas enjoyed gardening, including tending to a variety of roses for which he and Rosemary earned a number of awards as members of the Warren Rose Society.  He also enjoyed collecting clocks, model cars, and decorating for the holidays.

Surviving are his wife Rosemary of Warren, Ohio; daughter Frances and her husband Jason Rister of Cortland, Ohio; his daughter-in-law, Claire (Meikle) Taylor, of Swindon, England; two grandsons, Jack Taylor of Sydney, Australia, and Alex Taylor of Swindon, England;  England; his sister, Elizabeth Ohlinger of Mason, West Virginia; and many more nieces, nephews, and their children.

Thomas is preceded in death by his first wife, Valda; his son, Gary, of Swindon, England; his parents; and his three brothers and one sister.

A memorial service and celebration of life with full military honors will be held at the General Assembly Church of God, 2021 E River Rd, Newton Falls, Ohio 44444, on Saturday, February 24, 2018, with calling hours from 11:00 am until 12:00 pm, with a memorial service beginning at 12:00 pm, and dinner thereafter.  Flowers may be sent to the church.

Arrangements are being handles by the Bernard P. Borowski Memorial Home in Newton Falls.

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