Rebecca Taylor Grow

Rebecca Taylor Grow, 79, of Rockingham, Virginia, gently and peacefully passed away on Monday, October 6, 2025, with her husband by her side. Rebecca was born March 20, 1946 in Kokomo, Indiana, the daughter of Billy Ray Taylor and Elizabeth Rainbolt Taylor. She graduated from Kokomo High School and earned her bachelor's degree in Theater from Purdue University, and her master's degree from The Goodman Theater Conservatory in Chicago. She and her husband, Joel, met at a party in 1980. Joel was there with a date. Once his and Rebecca's eyes met, Joel spent much of the evening trying to encourage his date to talk with other folks at the party so he could ease on over to Rebecca to get her phone number. Within six months, they were married, a union full of joy and laughter and adventure for 44 devoted years. Rebecca's career in the theatre began in the '70s in Chicago, where she worked steadily as an actress for several years, earning a Joseph Jefferson Award for acting. She took a hiatus to move to Colorado to be a hippie for a couple of years, before returning to Chicago and then to NY City to act, direct and teach. She made her living in theatre for over 30 years, working with highly regarded artists James Whitmore, Celeste Holm, Christopher Walken, Jesse Eisenberg, Theodore Bikel and many more. In retirement in Virginia, Rebecca became a talented and enthusiastic watercolor artist and porcelain maker. Her "Artful Boxes" became popular favorites at art shows and galleries. In 2018, Rebecca and Joel moved from their Chesapeake Bay home to Sunnyside Community in Rockingham, where they greatly enjoyed their time near the mountains. Over the last several months, as her health declined, Rebecca was skillfully and lovingly cared for by the wonderful staff at Sunnyside's Memory Care and Healthcare communities and the folks from First Choice Hospice. Her family and friends will be forever and deeply grateful. Rebecca's husband Joel remains behind to cherish many sweet, joyful memories, joined by Rebecca's Pennsylvania cousins, and her nieces and nephews and sister-in-law in Indiana. Rebecca's beloved Wally the Cat -who prefers to be called "Your Lordship"-is here with Joel, and is the last in a long line of cats and dogs that enriched Rebecca's and Joel's life together. Her parents, sister Sue, and brother Bob preceded her in death. There will be a memorial celebration on Monday, November 3, 2025 at 10:30 a.m., at the Sunnyside Meredith Chapel, 3935 Sunnyside Drive, Rockingham, VA Rebecca was a dynamo, full of energy, ideas, and exuberance. If you want to honor her, go to a live theater performance, or an art museum, or a favorite beautiful spot. Or, best of all, try something new!