Peter Walter Taylor

Peter W. Taylor, LCDR, USN, Retired, of The Villages, Florida peacefully passed away at home on January 27 surrounded by his loving wife Sharon (Kiedinger) and beloved son Peter Lind Taylor. Pete was born in Terre Haute, Indiana on December 28, 1945 to Norman and Agnes (Schroth) Taylor.

Pete and his family relocated to Winter Park, Florida in 1951 where he went on to excel in school sports and academia, graduating from Winter Park High School in 1964. He enlisted in the US Navy and served from 1965 to 1969 as a Radarman on the USS Cony DD-508, USS Allen M Sumner DD-692 and USS McCaffery DD-860. Pete returned to Winter Park, FL after service and graduated from UCF with a degree in Finance and Economics. He went on to work in the auto loan department of Barnett Bank in Winter Park and loved to recount wild tales of car repossessions he had to make.

Deciding that banking was not exciting enough, Pete re-enlisted in the Navy and went on to Officer Candidate School and Flight School at Pensacola, FL. Upon graduation Pete realized he did not want to spend his life on a carrier as a navigator and opted to go Surface Warfare. This decision took Pete to the ends of the earth—all 7 Oceans, 14 Seas, 5 Continents, over 50 countries and he achieved his goal of visiting all 50 states with his cruise to Alaska in 2023. Pete’s favorite duty station was Gaeta, Italy. During his tenure as a Naval Officer, Pete served aboard the USS Patterson FF-1061 and the USS Albany CG-10. Pete went on to the Navy’s Post Graduate School at Monterey where he received his post graduate degree in Aerodynamic Physics. This effort took Pete to the research and development side of the Navy at Dahlgren, VA and ultimately to serve as Third Fleet Rep at Point Mugu, CA on the test and evaluation side of the Navy.

Upon retirement from the US Navy in 1993 Pete returned to school at UCLA to secure a certificate in Environmental Engineering while Sharon continued to work until they returned to Maitland, FL to renovate their home. Continuing their love of travel, Pete planned driving trips that included National Parks and Monuments and interesting sites of little renown trying to avoid interstate highways and chain restaurants with many summer trips to Wisconsin to visit with Sharon’s family and golf with her Dad. Pete also served as a substitute teacher in Orange County, FL schools and sold real estate until deciding he wanted to fly more than he could in the Orlando, FL area. This time Pete and Sharon visited over 30 airparks throughout Florida and decided Cannon Creek Airpark in Lake City, FL suited them where they purchased a Beechcraft Skipper and Pete flew until he realized something was amiss with his health. Selling their home in Lake City, FL they found golf front property at Lake Monticello in Palmyra, VA so they could enjoy the company of Pete’s son and their grandchildren. Pete relished this time of his life as he enjoyed time with his son Peter and watched his grandchildren grow up and develop their own interests. Pete also returned to his love of golf and competed in many senior tournaments until relocating to The Villages, FL where Pete continued to play golf until Parkinson’s took away his balance and cancer shortened his life.

Pete is preceded in death by his parents, older brother William and younger brother Robert and father-in-law Neil Kiedinger. He is survived by his wife Sharon, son Peter Lind and his wife Jennifer Toone Taylor of Sandy Hook, VA and grandchildren, Jennifer Celeste Taylor of Richmond, VA and Stuart Couper Taylor of Crystal City, VA; mother-in-law Gert Kiedinger of Hobart, WI, sister-in-law Mary Taylor of Crawfordville, FL, sister-in-law Jane (Steve) Rollin of New Hope, MN, brother-in-law Gene (Debbie) Kiedinger of Verona, WI, sister-in-law Peg Kiedinger of Waukesha, WI and sister-in-law Donna (Mike) O’Connor of Shakopee, MN; as well as countless nieces and nephews.

The family would like to thank the staff of UF Health Spanish Plaines Rehab Hospital for their care during Pete’s brief stay before he entered hospice at home with Compassionate Care Hospice of The Villages. We also want to thank his dedicated nurse Kate and aide Juanita as well as the on-call nurses who showed great understanding of Pete’s progression through this part of his life. And most importantly, we want to thank Pete’s private caregiver, Avis McCants, who quietly kept watch over Pete and helped guide Sharon and Peter through Pete’s end of life journey. Avis’ calm demeanor and care helped the family beyond words.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to Compassionate Care Hospice of Lake and Sumter, Inc., 304 Lagrande Blvd, Lady Lake, FL 32159 or Folds of Honor, 501 Sweetwater Cove Blvd, Longwood, FL 32779.

Dignity Memorial is coordinating Pete’s graveside services and interment at Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia to be held at a yet to be determined future date.