Obituary of Donald C. Taylor

Donald Clarence Taylor June 16, 1925 – June 19, 2017. Surrounded by family, Don Taylor of State College passed just days after celebrating his 92nd birthday and 66th Fathers Day. He was born on a farm outside of Ames, Illinois on June 16, 1925, a low-birthweight baby who was not expected to survive the night. Instead, he enjoyed 92 years before passing in State College, Pennsylvania on June 19, 2017. The son of Esther and Clarence Taylor, he was raised in northern Illinois by his great aunt and uncle, Blanche and Lawrence Riggs, after Esther’s death when he was 15 months old. He graduated from Walnut High School in 1943 along with his high-school sweetheart, Elaine Taylor. The two later married on June 21, 1947 and celebrated their 65th anniversary before Elaine’s passing in November of 2012.  Don joined the army in January of 1945 when World War II was in its final year, serving in the 32nd Combat Engineer Battalion. He was a life-long member of the Masons, serving first with Mendota Lodge#176 and later with Ottawa Occidental Lodge #40. Prior to moving to State College in 2004, he and his wife lived in Ottawa, Illinois for 49 years where he was employed by U.S. Silica. Don was a loving husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother, and uncle. He was deeply loved and will be greatly missed. Don is survived by his two daughters, Dawn Taylor-Klingler and Linnette Taylor, two granddaughters, Amy Taylor and Jennifer Taylor, and three great-grandchildren, Laurel Taylor Baughman, Quinn Taylor Baughman, and Emma Taylor-Salinas, all of Centre County, Pennsylvania. In addition, he is survived by his sister, Judi Callison, two nephews and six nieces, all of northern Illinois. Funeral services will take place at a future point in time in Walnut, Illinois with interment at the Walnut Cemetery where generations of the family have been laid to rest since the 1800s. Condolences to the family may be sent to 415 W. Park Avenue, State College, PA 16803.