Charles Ross Taylor

Charles Ross Taylor, loving husband, father and grandfather

OLEAN - Charles Ross Taylor, 90, died peacefully Sunday (Jan. 8, 2023) in hospice care, at Olean General Hospital in Olean.

He was born Feb. 11, 1932, in Kirkcaldy, Scotland, to Andrew and Isabella Ross Taylor.

Charles finished high school at the age of 14 and immediately went into full-time work as an apprentice blacksmith. In 1951, he joined the British Army and served in Germany and then Egypt.

In 1955, he emigrated to the U.S., settled in Ridgeway, Pa., and worked as a draftsman for Stackpole Carbon Co. in St. Mary's, Pa.

Six months prior to emigrating, Charles met Elizabeth Aitken. In June 1957, Elizabeth "Betty" emigrated to the U.S., and they were married Dec. 28 of that year. Charles became an American citizen in the late 1950s.

In 1967, Charles took a job as a draftsman at Clark Bros. and moved to Olean. After several years at Clarks, he worked as an orderly at Olean General Hospital, worked as a cross country tractor trailer driver and then went back to drafting at Dresser Rand. in Wellsville until he retired in 1997.

Charles was a member of Abundant Life Ministries, Weston Mills.

He was an avid tennis player and a familiar figure at the Oak Hill Park tennis courts across from his home. He was also a determined golfer and had played as recently as this past September, with plans to play again this spring with his sons.

Charles is survived by his wife of 65 years, Elizabeth Taylor; his daughter, Elaine (Mark) Chew; sons, Andrew (Shae) Taylor and Bruce (Nancy) Taylor; grandchildren, Mandi (Jonathan) Hornung, Ashley (Clinton) Griffith, Keren (Tim) Warren, Charles Chew and Makayla Taylor; and great-grandchildren, Natalie, Joseph, Charlie, Oliver, Ansley, Roslyn and Lillian.

Charles was predeceased by a brother, George Taylor, on March 31, 2022.

A memorial gathering will be held from 3 to 4 p.m. Thursday (Jan. 12, 2023) at Abundant Life Ministries Church, 1331 Olean-Portville Road, Weston Mills. A memorial service will begin at 4 p.m. The Rev. Bruce Taylor, pastor and Charles' son, will officiate. Charles will be laid to rest at Pleasant Valley Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Abundant Life Ministries, 1331 Olean-Portville Road, Weston Mills.

Arrangements are under the direction of the Letro-McIntosh-Spink Funeral Home, Inc., 646 E. State St., Olean.

Online condolences may be made at www.letromcintoshspinkfuneralhome.com.