Walton Sneed Taylor

Walt was born to the late Walton S. Taylor, Sr., and Julia Miller Taylor on February 5, 1921, in Dallas, Texas. Walt was raised in Dallas, graduating from North Dallas High School in 1939. He joined the Navy shortly before World War II, working in both naval intelligence and civil-military relations, and saw action in the South Pacific. While serving in the Navy, Walt also attended Southwestern Louisiana Institute in Lafayette, Louisiana, where he met his wife of almost 67 years, Betty Betar Taylor.

Walt and Betty lived in New Orleans from 1946 to 1953, where he worked for the U.S. Postal Service. In 1953, Walt was commissioned as a U.S. postal inspector, and he and Betty moved shortly thereafter to Tallahassee, Florida. Walt served as a postal inspector in Tallahassee for over twenty years. After retiring from the Postal Service, Walt worked for several years as a Leon County Deputy Sheriff.

A man of deep and enduring Christian faith, Walt was a long-time member of the Northside Baptist Church in Tallahassee (now Canopy Roads Baptist Church) and also served that congregation as a deacon. Walt was also an exceptionally loving and devoted husband and father, a man who truly put the needs and aspirations of his wife and children ahead of his own. He will also be remembered warmly by friends and acquaintances for his jovial and welcoming manner. Walt was an avid reader (particularly of theological and historical works) and, as a younger man, enjoyed gardening, as well as biking and walking excursions with his family.

Walt is survived by his two children, David Harold Taylor (and daughter-in-law Carolyn Morgan Taylor) and Kathryn Taylor Hirsch (and son-in-law William Reece Hirsch); his sisters, Grace McEwen of Grand Saline, Texas and Mary Beth Adkins of Irvine, California; and his brother, Reverend Daniel R. Taylor of Baltimore, Maryland. He was preceded in death by his cherished wife, Betty Betar Taylor; his sister, Erma Ruyle; and his brother, John S. Taylor.

Funeral arrangements are being handled by the Evangeline Funeral Home in New Iberia, Louisiana. Burial will be held on Monday, May 7, at the Rose Hill Cemetery in New Iberia, following a service celebrating Walt’s life, at 10:00 a.m. that morning at Evangeline Funeral Home. The family will also be receiving visitors on Sunday, May 6, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m., at the Evangeline Funeral Home and again on Monday from 8:00 am until service time.

To view the online obituary, and sign the guestbook, please visit www.evangelinefuneralhome.com

Evangeline Funeral Home of New Iberia (337) 364-1881 is in charge of arrangements.