William Taylor

William Taylor, 78 died Saturday, November 3, 2012 at Friendship Village in Columbus where he resided. He was born August 12, 1934 in the river town of Middleport, OH to the late Hubert and Geraldine (Owens) Taylor. He graduated form Middleport High School in 1952 and was a member of the Middleport Presbyterian Church where he was an active member of the Youth Fellowship as a teenager. Later he became a member of the Independence, OH Presbyterian Church. In his later life Bill attended a variety of churches. Bill was a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Ohio University in 1956, going on to attain his Masters in 1963. His major fields of study were biological science, English, and counseling. He did further study at Ohio State’s Franz Theodore Stone Laboratory at Put-in-Bay, Wells College, Cornell University, University of Louisville, University of Pittsburgh and Vanderbilt. He was a member of the Ohio Academy of Science since 1956 and was a presenter there. Bill was a teacher, department chair, and activity advisor in the Independence, Ohio Public Schools for 44 years. While there he developed and was director of the fifty acre school and Community Outdoor Education Center. He founded and was adviser of the Independence High School Biology Society for 39 years. Bill was presented with a number of awards during his career. In 1968 he was presented with an Outstanding Biology Teacher of Ohio award by the National Association of Biology Teachers. He was presented a special award by the Ohio Division of Wildlife in 1972 and was an Outstanding Conservation Award recipient in 1974 from the Ohio Sierra Club. He was a Nature Conservancy Award recipient in 1979. For his work, he was given a special grant by the Jennings Foundation and was a Battelle-Aker Award recipient in 1984. After retiring to Friendship Village of Columbus, Bill led the development of Friendship Woods, an nature preserve on the campus and played an active leadership role in landscaping, travel and outdoor Christmas lighting at the Village. One of Bill’s favorite activities throughout his life was travel. He traveled in all states, except Alaska and Hawaii, and in most Canadian provinces. For many years he was a hiker and camper on his travels, often accompanied by students. He was a frequent speaker to groups on outdoor education and travel. While at Friendship Village, he wrote and edited a travel newsletter called Going Places. Bill always revered his river town heritage. A hobby during his teenage years was photographing the last of the paddlewheel boats on the Ohio River, He was proud of the many outstanding graduates of Independence High School and enjoyed following the careers of as many as he could. The number of students who entered medical related fields and scientific research and teaching was phenomenal. Bill is preceded in death by many aunts, uncles and cousins. He is survived by his brother Carl (Patricia) Taylor, Columbus, his sister Helen (Larry) Fox, Milford Center, nieces April (Robert) Matthews, Lewis Center, Teri (Justin) Story and children Darik and Nicholas, Marysville, Pamela Fox, Grove City, nephew Tim (Monica) Fox, Marysville and many cousins. Family will receive friends Wednesday from 4-7 PM at SCHOEDINGER NORTH CHAPEL, 5554 Karl Rd where a funeral service will be held Thursday at 10 AM. Interment will follow at 3 PM in Riverview Cemetery, Middleport, OH where he designed his own memorial stone to commemorate his river heritage and his career in education. Memorial contributions may be made to the Riverbent Heritage Art and Science Scholarship at Ohio University, Athens, OH 45701.