Wavyl attended George Washington High School in Los Angeles, where she was a chosen member of the Knights and Ladies Society. She was also president of the Girls League Association, and she decorated for all the dances. She spent the afternoons in the art department painting backdrops to go behind the band, from the Sadie Hawkins dance to the prom.
Wavyl was an artist. She studied art at Pepperdine University and worked in an art gallery. She painted throughout her life, even selling her paintings to pay for her children’s college tuitions. She taught her grandchildren how to paint. Most recently, she had the opportunity to show her 6-year-old great-granddaughter how to paint a watercolor sunset.
When Wavyl was 18, she met Preston Taylor, who was almost six years her senior. Because Wavyl’s parents’ house in Santa Fe Springs still did not have phone lines, Preston would go to the Western Union telegraph office to send a telegram to Wavyl and tell her what the plan was for their dates. His commitment worked. Preston and Wavyl were married on September 25, 1954, at McCarty Memorial Christian Church. Wavyl remembered, “It was the hottest recorded day in September for Los Angeles.”
In 1961, the Taylors moved to rural Conejo Valley for Preston’s job as a Hunt-Wesson Foods field liaison to the farmers in Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties. Preston recalled, “Wavyl thought she was being taken to the tulies!” Wavyl was a good sport, especially since she would be raising their three children at home—without a car—while Preston was at work.
In everything Wavyl did, her love for God, her family, and children—everyone’s children—shone through. She was a founding member of Bethany Baptist Church of Thousand Oaks. She taught Sunday school and sewed the choir outfits. She helped start and lead the church’s Awana program. For 28 years, Wavyl served faithfully as Bethany’s church secretary and office manager.
Wavyl lived a life worthy of the Lord. She looked forward to the gift of heaven which providentially arrived on her birthday. She is now reunited with her son, Gregg Taylor; her husband Preston Taylor; and brother Rich Whitehouse, who preceded her in death. She is survived by her daughters, Loreen Robertson and Janet Russell; grandchildren, Holly, Heather, Laurel, and Whitney; great-grandchildren, Mina, Evangeline, and Ocean; and brothers Herb and Ron Whitehouse.
Memorial services will be held Saturday, September 21, 2 p.m. at Living Oaks Church in Newbury Park.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Awana International (awana.org).
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