Robert W. Taylor

Lafayette - Robert W. Taylor, 83, resident of Lafayette passed away Tuesday, July 3, 2018 at home. He was born February 5, 1935 and grew up in Lawtons, NY, on Dancote Farm raising Angus beef. Bob graduated from Cornell University in 1956. On June 2, 1956 he married Anna B. Cady in Troupsburg, NY. They relocated to West Lafayette, IN, where he completed his MS and Ph.D. in Agricultural Economics from Purdue University. Bob joined Purdue faculty as a Farm Management Professor in the Agricultural Economics Department. His passion and concern for students was legendary, and he continued teaching and mentoring for 50 years at Purdue.

Bob was not just recognized and admired by his students for his caring approach to challenging their thinking and stimulating them to learn, but also for his sincere interest in them as individuals with personal as well as professional aspirations. Through his dynamic classes and caring connections with students, he built relationships that lasted a lifetime. He also worked in extension, emphasizing family farm business arrangements. Bob was a member of Evangelical Covenant Church of Lafayette, Indiana where he taught Jr High Sunday School for many years. He left his mark on thousands of families across Indiana.

Former students remember Dr. Taylor for his daily quizzes, expressive teaching style, and especially for his wonderful ability to listen. Grandchildren remember him for his enthusiastic stories and sneezes, his wholehearted encouragement in life and learning, and his raised eyebrows and the suspenders he wore.

Outside of teaching, Bob enjoyed spending time in his woodworking shop making grandfather clocks and gifts for his family. He loved spending summers at the family cottage in Western, NY, where he spent hours of fun driving the boat, pulling skiers, and attempting to knock kids off the tube!

Surviving with his wife are his children Bill of Brighton, CO; Cindy (Bill) Fate of Lafayette, IN; Susan (Michael) Barker of Laramie, WY; Dan (Audette) of Rossville, IN. He was blessed with grandchildren Clayton (Sam) Taylor and Stephen (Christy) Taylor of Columbus, OH; Kevin (Rayna) Barker, Denise Barker, Karen (Joe) Marr, and Daniel (Liberty) Barker of Wyoming; Jacob, David, Sarah, Katie, and Karie Taylor of Rossville, Indiana; and 6 great-grandchildren. Also surviving are his brothers David (Leena) Taylor of Broomfield, CO; Donald (Sally) Taylor of Ames, IA; and sister-in-law Sylvi Taylor of Gettysburg, PA.

Bob was preceded in death by his parents Clayton and Annie (Clark) Taylor and his brother Philip J. Taylor of Lawtons, NY.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, July 7, 2018 at 2:00 pm at the Evangelical Covenant Church, 3600 S 9th St, Lafayette, IN. The service will be followed by a reception at 2:45 pm in the Great Room at the church.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Taylor Excellence Fund, within Purdue Ag Economics in care of Purdue Foundation, 403 West Wood Street, West Lafayette, IN 47907-2007. Gifts can also be made towards this fund online at www.Giving.Purdue.edu/InMemoryofDrBobTaylor. You may sign the guest book and leave memories at www.soller-baker.com.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Journal & Courier on Jul. 6, 2018.

Memories and Condolences
for Robert Taylor

Sponsored by Soller-Baker Funeral Homes, Inc. – Lafayette Chapel.

29 Entries

David Titus, Purdue Grad 1985

June 4, 2023

I just come across Dr. Taylor's obituary and wanted to pass on a few thoughts. I believe Bob Taylor was the kindest man I have ever met. He inspired me to want to be a college professor as well. RIP, my professor, advisor, mentor, and freind.

Paul Brooks

August 27, 2019

He was a great guy. Stumbled on this. Always energetic and seemed to love his job. RIP

Robert Yoder

July 9, 2019

I enjoyed his class and was touched by his true concern for his student's success. He was one of my favorite instructors at Purdue University for his passion to teach and caring nature.

Gary Brugger

July 30, 2018

Bob was a great Uncle and a great teacher. He will be missed by all those students who took his classes and by his extended family and friends.

I have many great memories of his vacations to Troupsburg, NY and our trips to Wide Beach

Ed Redden BS AgEcon 1976

July 17, 2018

I had the distinct pleasure to have Dr. Taylor as a professor for three classes during my time at Purdue University (AgEcon 100, Econ 217, and AgEcon 310). Dr. Taylor was a tough, but caring instructor. He was probably the only professor who required his students to schedule a couple of office appointments per semester to visit with him outside of the classroom. You felt like he was truly interested in seeing you graduate and succeed. I will never forget watching him wake someone who dozed off in his classroom. He had an eagle eye for snoozing students. May God Bless and comfort his family. Please take consolation that Dr. Taylor made a lasting impression on all who were under his tutelage.

Mike Etter

July 16, 2018

Rest in peace Dr. Taylor. Great teacher, great mentor, and caring individual. Easily one of my favorite teachers.
Dr. Mike Etter
BS 1981, DVM 1986

Sally Thompson

July 16, 2018

Bob Taylor was a wonderful colleague and gifted teacher. I had the privilege of working with him at Purdue. He always showed me and all others gentle kindness, real caring, and impeccable professionalism. My deepest condolences to the entire family.

Baltasar Ricardo Ferreiro

July 16, 2018

Bob Taylor was my advisor and guide amidst a mentor for this foreign student from El Salvador, so BS71 in Ag Econ was obtained due to Dr Taylor guidance. I did contacted him over the years. Rest in peace Bob, your well done job on earth has concluded.
Regards

Baltasar Ricardo Ferreiro
BS Ag Econ 71
A Bob Taylor proud student

Michael Sheetz

July 16, 2018

Dr. Taylor was an excellent communicator, respected educator, and an all around individual. I took his Farm Mamagement class I believe my sophomore year of 1967. Many of his principles I applied as I taught high school vocational agriculture for 5 yrs and then working for Farm Credit Services. His impact on the Indiana agriculture community is immense. I trust his family rests in the fact that this was a life well lived. My condolences to all those that loved him.

Brian Joehl class of 77

July 16, 2018

Bob Taylor was a very special person and Professor. I had the privilege of taking several of his undergrad courses in the mid 70s. He had a very positive impact on me and will be missed by the AG community. May God Bless you Bob with a place in Heaven!

Scott Strickland

July 10, 2018

Dr. Taylor was a dynamic individual, excellent teacher and a model for humanity. I have had the pleasure to work with his son Dan Taylor for many years and he is an absolute reflection of his father. A tremendous loss, but a guide for what we all aspire to be.

Tim Lohr

July 10, 2018

Dr Taylor was my favorite professor at Purdue. He had the gift of making learning fun and relevant. I will never forget being invited to have a meal with his family at his home. As a freshman from a small school and small town, he made the big university seem personal and caring. I also had the privilege to grade papers for him as a senior. What a learning experience that proved to be. My prayers are with your family during this time.

Viki Taylor

July 9, 2018

Cindy and family may the love of friends support you during this time of sadness.

William McFee

July 7, 2018

Bob was one of the best colleagues I have known. He was an effective, enthusiastic and sympathetic teacher. He cared about students, fellow faculty, and the university. He will be missed. Bill McFee

July 7, 2018

A wonderful man and teacher sorry for your loss, joe, David, Barry, Barbara virgin

John Hobson

July 7, 2018

I am so sorry for the passing of Bob Taylor, one of the finest men I have ever known. I had pretty well decided that I wanted AG ECON to be my major, but when I got into ECON 217 in the fall of 1963 with his teaching, my mind was made up. Later, I even got to grade papers for him as an undergrad which was an honor. He served as my formal and informal counselor for the next five years. The best advise he ever game me was in my first year of grad school which I was not liking at all and coming after a great summer job in purchasing. That employer said they wanted to talk to me about a permanent job. I wanted to drop out and go to work, but wisely decided I should talk to Bob about that plan. His response was short and to the point: But did they say they wanted a quitter. End of discussion. Long story short, I completed my MS, got to go to the Rose Bowl and my met my wife of now nearly forty-eight years.

Shortly before he retired, my wife and I sat in on an ECON 217 class and his enthusiasm and love for the students and their love for him was just as genuine as in the sixties. Thanks to his good advise, life has worked out and now I am looking forward to joining him againin heaven. To his wife and family, may the words of all who knew your husband and dad and his belief in Jesus carry you in the days ahead. God Bless you. John Hobson

Jan Metzler

July 7, 2018

Bob Taylor was the most transparent man I've known. There was no office Bob and other Bob. What a testament to his character. Working for him made me a better person and to this day I would walk through fire for him. Anna and family, thank you for sharing him with all of us.

Kurt Rothenberger

July 7, 2018

Wonderful man and terrific family. I never took a class from Mr Taylor but he taught me many valuable lessons.
As a neighborhood kid and very frequent visitor to the Taylors his status as a roll model and leader is vivid in my memory even several decades later. I always felt welcomed at the Taylors and my condolences, love and thoughts are with Mrs Taylor, Dan and all the Taylors/Barkers and families.

Jerry and Vyanne Chandler

July 6, 2018

Jerry and Vyanne Chandler and our sons, Matt, David, and Adam so enjoyed working with you at the Indiana State Fair (Pioneer Area) in the 1980s. You were always so kind to us and our little boys. You were a wealth of knowledge. Thank you for your many kindnesses.
Jerry and Vyanne

Mark Green

July 6, 2018

God bless and keep you and your family at this time of loss.

Andrew Schroeder

July 6, 2018

I would like to extend my sympathy to the Taylor family. Dr. Taylor was a great man and the best teacher I ever had.

Kimberly Risk Loveless

July 6, 2018

Dr. Taylor was one of my favorite professors while I was a student at Purdue. I was a student of his in the late '70s. I also attended his retirement party a few years ago. May God bless your family in this time of sorrow.

Joe Uhl

July 6, 2018

Bob was a great teacher, mentor, inspiration and friend to me and others. He always had time to help us new, young professors. We all learned a great deal about the art of teaching from him. Combining his teaching, life philosophy and religion, Bob was a superb human role model for students and faculty. We can't replace him, but we can be thankful for his work and life. Joe Uhl, a colleague.

Sharie Shupp

July 6, 2018

Bob's brother, Don, is a dear friend of ours. We have been praying for Bob during his illness. He sounds like a wonderful, godly man. Thankful for his healing and joy to be Home with the Lord. Though those grieve his absence in their life now, it is with hope.

W Mark Hilton

July 6, 2018

Dr. Taylor was one of the best teachers I ever had. I took his Ag Econ course in the spring of 1977 and I can still remember examples he gave 41 years later. When I came back to Purdue in 1998 to teach at the veterinary college I was thrilled to learn that the Center for Instructional excellence had courses on teaching for new professors. If Dr. Taylor was on the schedule I made sure I was front and center in the class. His teachings helped me be a much more effective and compassionate teacher. As I sit here typing I can still see him up front 'acting out' a specific example. His legacy will live forever as I am sure there are thousands of former students just like me that quote Dr. Taylor on a regular basis. What a tremendous honor to know this great man and to learn from him. Rest In Peace Dr. Taylor.

Marilyn Grenat

July 5, 2018

Bob was a dear Christian friend with many talents. He always had a smile for everyone and he will be sorely missed by many. May you have a wonderful union with our Maker and may God Bless your family as they grieve their loss.
With heartfelt sympathies,
Marilyn Grenat

Barry Delks

July 5, 2018

What a great teacher, mentor, leader and man. A joy to know!

Kelli Yunker

July 5, 2018

May your hearts soon be filled with wonderful memories of joyful times together as you celebrate a life well lived.
I think the Taylors are a wonderful family, and they have been so good to my brother. May God bless your family

Linda B

July 5, 2018

Dr. Taylor is one of my favorite professors that instructed me while I was at Purdue. My husband was his neighbor on Hayes Street and enjoyed his conversations with him as well. Dr. Taylor will be sorely missed and he was such an impactful person as he walked campus pulling his red wagon.

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