Richard was born at home on November 25, 1938 in New Matamoras, Ohio to Helen and Clyde Taylor. He graduated from New Matamoras High School in 1957, and joined the United States Air Force and was stationed at Whiteman AFB in Knob Noster, Missouri as a B-47 mechanic.
Richard often went to nearby Warrensburg where he would eventually meet and marry his wife of 61 years, Linda Sue Matthews. They started a family with first daughter, Cindy, and a year later they moved to Richard’s hometown of New Matamoras, Ohio where their second daughter Deanna would be born. After 7 years in Ohio, they moved to Kansas City and had third daughter Brenda. They bought their first home in the Northland and Richard would start an over 30 year career at Kansas City Southern Railroad going from Switchman to Yard Master and retiring as General Train Master.
Richard always had a passion for the outdoors, fishing, hunting, conservation and lifetime member of NRA. His love of country and history led him to be a Civil War Reenactor, which gave him an opportunity to be an extra in two movies, “Glory” and “Gettysburg”.
Richard was active in the Maple Park Neighborhood Home Association and a dedicated member of the Tower View Baptist Church and often volunteered on the hospitality team at the church. His dedication to God, family, and country were attributes that allowed him to be loved and respected by his family and friends. You could always find him at working in the yard or tinkering in his shed or meeting his friends for breakfast and coffee.
Richard was preceded in death by his parents; a brother-in-law, George Springer; niece, Christina Springer; and a nephew, Dennis Horine.
Richard is survived by his wife of 61 years, Linda Sue Taylor; daughters, Cynthia “Cindy” Taylor, Deanna (Blake) Marcell, and Brenda (Vernon) McClanahan; his sister, Judy Springer; mother-in-law, Nelda Ravenscraft; sister-in-law, Marlyn Horine; brother-in-law, Allen (Judy) Matthews, grandchildren, Lyndsay, Taylor, Nick, Olivia, and Mason and great grandson, Blake. Words will never express how deeply he was loved and will be missed.
In lieu of flowers, please send memorials to Tower View Baptist Church, 7301 NE 50th St. Kansas City, Missouri 64119.
The family would like to thank Our Lord and Savior for giving us such a loving husband, son, dad, grandpa, and friend for 83 years.
