Robert Edward Taylor

Taylor, Robert Edward, age 87, of Mountain Brook, died September 10, 2014 at St Vincent's Hospital after an extended illness. Dr. Taylor was born in 1927 in Andalusia, Alabama, the second of two children born to the late Luther Stafford and Bertha Henderson Taylor. He is preceded in death by his wife of more than 55 years, Ann Schuh Taylor. He is survived by his daughter, Carolyn T. (Mrs. Mark L.) Barnard of Darlington, SC; a son, Robert F. Taylor; four granddaughters: Christy Barnard Chapman and Lindsay McElven of Charleston, SC, Harriet Taylor of New York City and Mary Gwynedd Taylor of Savannah, GA. Mr. Taylor graduated from the Marion Institute in 1945 and matriculated at Auburn University where he was a member of the Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity. In 1948 he was elected into Alpha Phi Omega service fraternity and the Blue Key and Omicron Delta Kappa honors fraternities. He received his Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts degrees from Vanderbilt University in 1951 and 1954 respectively. As a recipient of several scholarships and awards, he continued his studies and embarked on a career in biological research in the areas of Zoology at the University of Delaware 1954-59 and of Cellular Physiology at Princeton University, 1959-61. He was elected into the Society of Sigma Xi in 1959. He also conducted post-graduate research at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute. After serving as an Investigator of the Cystic Fibrosis Research Laboratory, Albert Einstein Medical Center in Philadelphia, Mr. Taylor came to the Department of Oral Biology of the University of Alabama as a Research Associate. He retired as a full time faculty member of the University of Alabama School of Dentistry in 1989. Mr. Taylor held membership in a number of national professional societies and scientific organizations including the International association for Dental Research, the American association for Dental Research and the New York Academy of Sciences. He donated richly of his skills and talents to local, regional and national civic organizations in recognition of which he has received several honors and awards including being named a Paul Harris Fellow of Rotary International for the promotion of international understanding. An active member of the Boy Scouts of America for over 65 years, he also received the Silver Beaver Award for outstanding service to youth by the Boy Scouts of America, the Vulcan Award and the James E. West Award for exemplary service to the Scouting Movement. Mr. Taylor was also the First Honorary Member of the Alabama Hiking Association for his work in developing the hiking trails at Oak Mountain State Park. For many years he was also an active member of the Caledonian and St. Andrews Societies of Birmingham. A loyal supporter of Samford University and the Cumberland School of Law, he also endowed a lecture series in honor of his wife, Ann at the Vanderbilt University School of Nursing. Mr. Taylor was a member of Dawson Memorial Baptist Church. His image as a teacher, colleague, friend of students and colleagues, woodsman, scouter and scoutmaster, will remain with those who have had the privilege of knowing, working and camping with him. The family will receive friends between 10:00 am and 11:00 am on Monday, September 15, 2014 at the Valley Chapel (1800 Oxmoor Road, Homewood, Alabama). The funeral service will follow the visitation at the Valley Chapel, Rev. Margaret Loclin Anderson presiding. Burial at Elmwood Cemetery will be immediately after the funeral service. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial gifts to the Ann Schuh Taylor Scholarship fund, Vanderbilt University School of Nursing (2424 West End Avenue, Suite 450, Nashville TN 37203 or the Boy Scouts of America Greater Alabama Council, or the Dawson Memorial Baptist Church (1114 Oxmoor Rd., Homewood, AL 35209..

Arrangements under the direction of Ridout's Valley Chapel, Homewood, AL.