Robert Edward Taylor

TAYLOR Mr. Robert Edward Taylor, 87, a Farmville community leader and businessman, died at his home on Thursday, January 4, 2007 after a period of declining health. He was born June 4, 1919 in Richmond, Va. He spent his boyhood in the village of Prospect, Virginia where his family was in the mercantile and lumber business. He graduated from Farmville High School and attended Hampden-Sydney College where he was a member of Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity. Mr. Taylor was a founding member of the Prince Edward School Foundation, establishing Prince Edward Academy, now Fuqua School. He was President and CEO of Taylor Manufacturing Co., Inc., building homes, schools and commercial buildings. Having a love for working with wood and the sawmill industry, Mr. Taylor was a lumberman from his 20s until his late 60s. He was also an avid cattle farmer. He was a member of John's Memorial Episcopal Church where he served as choir member for many years, a vestry member, senior warden and junior warden. Mr. Taylor was a member of the Prince Edward County Historical Society and was a virtual wealth of knowledge regarding the history of Prince Edward County. Mr. Taylor was famous for his sense of humor and talent for story telling. He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Elizabeth "Betty" Baldwin Taylor; his son, Robert "Bob" E. Taylor Jr. and his wife, Martha Johns Taylor of Farmville; his daughters, Caroline Taylor Stowers and her husband, Alan of Richmond and Elizabeth Taylor Carter and her husband, Baxter, of Farmville; and his grandchildren, Ellen Carter Taylor, Harriet Johns Taylor, Robert Carlsen Stowers and James Baxter Carter Jr. A funeral service will be held Sunday, January 7, 2007 at 2 p.m. at John's Memorial Episcopal Church in Farmville with interment in Westview Cemetery. Family will receive friends Saturday evening 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the Puckett Funeral Home in Farmville. Memorial contributions may be made to the John's Memorial Episcopal Church or to Fuqua School. Puckett Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.