Thomas W. Traylor

Thomas W. Traylor
Evansville, Ind.
Thomas W. Traylor, 73, of Evansville, Indiana, passed away at Select Specialty Hospital surrounded by his wife and sons on May 9, 2013.
He was a devoted husband, and a loving and supportive father and grandfather. He was actively involved in raising his sons and loved coaching soccer for all of his boys. Tom was a advocate and supporter of Evansville area soccer programs.
A member of Holy Redeemer Parish, Tom was a devout Catholic and very supportive of Catholic education and ministry.
Tom will be remembered as a brilliant business man, engineer, and entrepreneur. He received his BSCE from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1961, and his MBA from Stanford University in 1963. He helped to catapult Traylor Bros., Inc., a company founded by his father William in 1946, into one of North America's leaders in underground, marine, and bridge construction. A testament to his many engineering contributions, Tom was honored by The Beavers in 2008, with the prestigious Beavers Management Award and in 2010 by The Moles for his outstanding achievement in construction, both results of nominations by his colleagues. He was a member of other fraternal organizations of construction and engineering professionals such as the Moles, the Construction Industry Round Table, the National Academy of Construction, and the American Society of Civil Engineers. He also served as president of the Beavers organization.
Tom was a member of the World Presidents Organization and Chief Executive Organization, and he served as director on various community, national, and university boards, including Fifth Third Bank and the University of Evansville. He and his wife, Nancy, have generously supported civic and community organizations such as JDRF, United Way, WNIN, the Evansville Museum, and the Evansville Philharmonic Orchestra—an organization that represented his beloved appreciation for music and the arts. Their history of philanthropy is also evident at Evansville Day School, Reitz Memorial High School and the University of Evansville, as well as other educational institutions that have touched their lives.
A man with many interests, Tom had a passion for flying and obtained his instrument rating to fly his own plane. He and his wife were avid travelers visiting many sites throughout the United States and around the world. He was a voracious reader of a great variety of topics.
Tom was preceded in death by his father, William Ferris Traylor; and mother, Marjorie Ahlering Traylor.
Surviving are his wife, Nancy Sartore Traylor, of Evansville, Ind.; and sons, Thomas William, Jr. (Lisa), of Laguna Hills, Calif.; Michael Thomas (Michelle), of Manhattan Beach, Calif; Christopher Scott (Niki), of Evansville, Ind., and Daniel Allen (Catherine), of Dallas, Texas. Also surviving are a brother, Glen Robert Traylor (Nancy), of Chicago, Ill., and sister, Suzanne Teater (Edward), of Nicholasville, Ky. Tom was lovingly known as "Granddad" by his 13 grandchildren, Julia Kristine, Melanie Lauren, Sean Michael, Karenna Lareau, Natalie Michelle, Gwyneth Nicole, Marshall Thomas, Charlotte Claire, Stella Grace, Sydney Hope, Elizabeth Jane, Courtney Carolann and Margaret Marie.
The family wishes to thank Tom's many doctors, as well as his many care givers and staff at the Select Hospital, Deaconess Gateway and the Cleveland Clinic for their wonderful and compassionate care.
Visitation will be from 3 to 7 p.m. Sunday May 12, 2012, at Ziemer Funeral Home East Chapel, 800 S. Hebron, Evansville, IN 47714.
Funeral service will begin at 10:30 a.m. Monday May 13, 2013, at the funeral home and will continue with a Mass of Christian Burial at 11 a.m. at St. Benedict Cathedral, 1328 Lincoln Ave., Evansville, IN 47714.
Interment at St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, Indiana State Chapter,
8440 Woodfield Crossing Blvd., Suite 201, Indianapolis, IN 46240.
Condolences may be made online at www.ziemerfuneralhome.com.