Russell E Taylor

Russell was born September 14, 1917 in Scotia, New York, to Eva Eleanor Sothcott Taylor of Winchester, England and Everett Taylor of Schenectady, New York. Russell passed away at home September 4, 2014. Russell was predeceased in death by his brother Lloyd Taylor and sister Ruth Taylor.

Russell grew up in the upstate New York countryside. With guidance from his father, he and his brother Lloyd raised and hunted with good dogs, fished the streams, lakes, and fur trapped for cash that was so hard won during the Depression Years. It was not uncommon to forage for mushrooms on the way back

from the trap lines and present it all to mom (Eva) to prepare for breakfast before school. As a young person Russell worked at a local farm and cider mill, which probably helped pay for the first of two Harleys. The roads were rough and rutted. More than just a highway rider, he had the ability to bush whack these machines off road as well. After one spill over the handlebars he rode on home and then that evening passed out into the gravy and potatoes

at the dinner table.

Russell had many good times and cherished friends from that time and for years to come. About this time he met a neighbor girl, Helen Wojtulewicz, who had befriended his mother to learn knitting. Neither of them imagined how their paths would eventually join. Times began to change and Russell wanted to change with them. In 1940 he enlisted for six years in the US Navy. He was attached to the USS Wichita and served in the North Atlantic in the “Lend-Lease

fleets”, escorting merchant ships to England and Russia before the United States had declared War. He also spent time in Iceland, Scotland and England. He was assigned to the mine layer USS Weehawken and participated in the Invasion of Sicily. Russell subsequently served on the submarine rescue ship USS Greenlet , and was an instructor at Submarine School in New London, Connecticut, and served on the submarine USS Skipjack in the Pacific up to the Surrender of Japan.

Subsequently, with some months of service ahead, Russell was stationed on the US west coast, where he found that Helen Wojtulewicz had taken a job with Lockheed Aircraft during the war. A courtship ensued and they were married on May 14, 1946. Seeking a good place to raise a family, they returned to the Schenectady area in 1950. Russell went to work for General Electric’s Schenectady Works which were at the time home to large motor and generator, and gas turbine production. Sons Gregg and Mark were born to their home in Colonie , NY. By 1958 Russell and Helen decided to follow the opportunities other family members had discovered in the San Francisco Bay Area. In 1958 Russell went out, found good paying work quickly, and moved the family out to Mountain View, California. Soon after the family bought a home in Sunnyvale. Russell moved restlessly and continuously through nine jobs in seven years, achieving better wages, benefits, and job challenges along the way. He tooled developmental work for earth reception of images from the Surveyor One moon lander. That wasn’t enough; Russell decided to seek work and move to Washington State. It reminded him of the best of New York - fishing, hunting and camping. He felt right at home. He worked in production aerospace and manufacturing maintenance machining locally at Continental Can Co.

Stopping to fish on the way home from work was his way, often as he could, until his retirement in 1984.

For the last 30 years of his retirement Russell enjoyed local fishing opportunities of the lakes, rivers and ocean in the Northwest and traveling with his loving wife Helen to see family and friends. Later he diligently cared for Helen’s needs until Sept. 26, 2001 when Russell’s loving wife of 55 years passed away. Since then, he always maintained correspondence especially on birthdays and Christmas with family and friends. Russell always maintained a youthful outlook on life and was known for that. Russell enjoyed a best out of three cribbage match with anyone who would play, and also enjoyed socializing at the local casinos.

Russell Everett Taylor passed away September 4, 2014 in his home. He will truly be missed and remembered by many.