Charles S. Taylor

The below obituary was written by Charles in February 2016. He requested that it be published with minimal changes. The obituary was updated by Travis Taylor in November 2024. Charles concluded his 2016 draft with the following: "I am looking forward, not hurriedly, to life's next great change. It would be nice to be reunited with family and friends who have already passed or to a long and restful sleep if there is no afterlife."

Charles S Taylor of Barre, VT passed on to a (hopefully) better life on November 9th, 2024; he was 87. Charles was born in Sandwich, NH on August 15, 1937, to Sumner E. Taylor and Alice Mudgett Taylor. Two families that had roots in NH extending back to the early 1600s.

Charles's education started in a one room schoolhouse near Taylor City in Parsonsfield, ME but was interrupted in 1943 when he survived being run over by a car in front of the Taylor Family Farm (circa 1780). The family moved to Woodsville, NH in 1944 and Charles attended Woodsville High School, graduating as the salutatorian in 1956. Charles attended the University of New Hampshire, paying for his own education by growing strawberries, working in a warehouse and in his senior year by working 40 hours a week on a night shift in a factory in Dover, NH. He graduated cum laude in 1960 with a degree in Business Administration.

Charles was the Treasurer of Taylor Auto Sales in Bradford, VT for two years and was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1962. He worked on a worldwide inventory project at the U.S. Army Security Agency for several months before being assigned to the 318th U.S. Army Security Agency Battalion in Herzogenaurach, Germany from 1963 to 1965.

In 1966 Charles started work in the Auditing Department of the National Life Insurance Company in Montpelier, VT. After completing a special project in the Dallas, TX Investment Department Office, Charles was chosen to work with a team to install a system providing workload data and staffing information at National Life. He later was chosen as the manager of the ongoing administrative area overseeing this system.

On October 3rd, 1970, Charles married Helen Ann Jacobs in Bradford, VT and they moved to Waterbury Center, VT in November. Charles always felt blessed that he had found this bright, energetic and pretty young woman to be his partner and the wonderful mother of his children. On December 8, 1976, they welcomed Travis Charles and on February 25, 1979, Erin Constance joined the family.

In 1985 Charles underwent open heart surgery, receiving a triple bypass and retired from National Life soon thereafter. Charles purchased and managed an independent sporting goods store in Waterbury, VT in 1992 which he renamed Sports World. He closed the store in 2006 and retired from full-time employment.

Charles and Helen promoted and supported Travis and Erin in their education in local schools and participation in sports. Travis was a first team selection for both the All-State Basketball and Baseball Teams (a rare achievement) and Erin played field hockey at Harwood. Travis graduated from UVM in 1999 majoring in Economics and Erin graduated from UVM in 2001 majoring in Communications. Both graduated with honors.

Charles and Helen helped Travis and Erin as much as they could while they pursued their professional careers. Travis and his partner, Bryan Borgia, founded and manage Topwater Capital, now a division of Jefferies Financial Group (JEF on the NYSE). Erin earned a Master's degree in Audiology and subsequently received a Doctorate in that discipline. Erin works as an audiologist at the InterMed Group in Portland, ME. Both Charles and Helen were very proud of the achievements of their children and the good citizens they have become.

With prodding and support from Travis and Erin, Charles and Helen traveled to Ireland, home of Helen's Judge family ancestors, in 2007. In 2010 Charles and Helen traveled to Germany. Unfortunately, upon returning from Germany, Helen was diagnosed with a mixed connective tissue disease (autoimmune) and succumbed to the Scleroderma form on June 11, 2014. A postponed trip to Italy was taken in Helen's memory in the fall of 2014 by Charles, Erin, Travis, and grandson Brogan.

After Helen's death, Charles continued to live in the "old farmhouse" in Waterbury Center until 2019. Charles lived his remaining years splitting time between Barre, VT and Venice Island, FL. During this time, Charles regained his passion for card games and became an active participant in bridge clubs in VT and FL. Charles enjoyed watching many sports on TV, particularly basketball and was a UVM men's basketball season ticketholder. Charles loved reading a good book and eating at his favorite restaurant, Tozier's, with friends. Lastly, Charles enjoyed spending time with his two grandsons, Brogan and Torin.

Charles was predeceased by his parents, two sisters, Linda Kay Taylor and Roberta McPherson, a special Aunt Alta T. Curtis and a special cousin Stephen Mudgett. He is survived by his children, Erin Taylor, Travis Taylor and grandsons Brogan and Torin Taylor. Also, by good friends Neil and Bonnie Kennedy, Rufus and Nancy Royce, Don and Kathy Mathews, Robert and Pam Stanton, Felix Dulle and Charlene Rosen, Lester and Muriel Nutting, Jay and Jean Jacobs, Pete and Diane Bessette, Charles and Harriet Grenier, G. Earle Taylor, Eleanor Taylor, Stephen and Lynn Wing, Tom Rodrigue, Phil Baker and other friends and family.

At the request of Charles, no service will be held. In lieu of flowers if anyone wishes, donation in his memory may be made to:

Scleroderma Foundation https://scleroderma.org/

Central VT Home Health https://www.cvhhh.org/

Waterbury Senior Citizens https://wasca.org/