Ralph Edward Taylor

Mr. Ralph Edward Taylor died suddenly, on March 3, at his home in Griffin, GA. The son of Agnes Dominick and Dudley Forrest Taylor, he was born on August 24, 1925, in Prosperity, SC. In 1942, his education was interrupted when he volunteered for Officer Training in the US Navy, and was accepted into the V-12 Program along with five close friends. His basic training was at Newberry College, midshipman school at Columbia University in New York, and finished amphibious training in Norfolk, VA. These young officers boarded rocket ships made for the invasion of Japan, then headed for Pearl Harbor, and the South Pacific. After the war, Mr. Taylor completed his education at his beloved Clemson University with a BS in Textile Chemistry. Mr. Taylor began his career in chemical lab investigation at Springs Industries and Dan River in Danville, VA. In 1957, he joined the Charles S. Tanner Company in chemical sales. He moved his wife, Lois Welch, and their growing family to Columbus, Georgia, where they lived and raised their five children until her death in 1990. In Columbus, Mr. Taylor was instrumental in the founding of the first Lutheran Church, St. Matthews, where he was a loyal member over 30 years. During these years, he was actively involved in many community and business organizations. Years later, and after his retirement from Exxon, he met and married Betty Cook Hewitt. This marriage brought him to Griffin, GA. where he lived for the past twenty years. In Griffin, he was a member of St. George's Episcopal Church and the Griffin Rotary Club. Mr. Taylor loved his life, loved his work, loved children, loved frequent travel both here and abroad, and most of all he loved Clemson football! In addition to his wife, Mr. Taylor is survived by his three sons: Michael (Peggy Grube), Matthew (Vickie Kirkland), and Mark; two daughters: Candace Taylor (Val Tyska) and Janis Purvis (Clarence). He is also survived by three grandchildren: Ashley, Dudley and Meredith Taylor of the Columbus area, four adult grandchildren of the Cincinnati area, and two great- grandchildren. Also surviving are Betty’s children, Jill Brennan (Mark), Dick Chesnut (Stacey), Cham Hewitt. Grandchildren are Margaret and Betsy Brennan; Ivey, Brooks, and Abigail Chesnut. A memorial service will be held on Friday, March 7, at 11 o’clock in the morning, at St. George’s Episcopal Church, Griffin, GA. A reception and visitation will follow in the church parlor. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Stepping Stones Educational Therapy Center, 141 Futral Road, Griffin, GA 30224 or a charity of choice.

Ralph Edward Taylor

August 24, 1925 - March 3, 2014