Bobby "Bob" L. Taylor

Bobby Lee Taylor, 92, known to most as B.L. or Bob, died on Sunday, October 26, 2025, at Four Seasons Health Center.

Born on June 3, 1933, in Columbus, Bob was the son of Arthur and Luella Taylor. He was a beloved husband, father, Grandpa/Poppa, brother, uncle and friend.

He is survived by his wife of 70 years, Shirley Ann Mundt Taylor, whom he married on Feb. 19, 1955; their four children Michael (Erica) Taylor, Melanie (Thomas) Lovich, Melissa (Mike) Hinckfoot, and Monte (Melinda) Taylor; 10 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren; and his brother, Bill Taylor. He also is survived by many other family and friends.

An accomplished woodcarver, Bob was featured in the book Folk Art and Aging: Life-Story Objects and Their Makers, written by Jon Kay. A story featuring Bob's artistry aired on WTIU in 2022. He created mostly landscape relief carvings and what he liked to call "memory carvings" depicting favorite scenes from his childhood years in Columbus and received numerous awards for his work, including the Indiana Heritage Fellowship Award in 2020.

Bob worked many jobs in Columbus, starting at age 8 delivering newspapers. He also delivered prescriptions, wrapped gifts, washed cars, scooped ice cream and zipped around town on his bicycle. He served in the United States Air Force and participated in Boy Scouts for 27 years as a scout and then a leader.

He started his career as an apprentice pattern maker at Engelking Patterns in Columbus, carving prototypes used to produce molds for making metal castings. He worked his way up to sales at Engelking and went on to become a pattern salesman at Badger Pattern Works in Milwaukee, WI, managing international accounts. He retired from Badger in 1999 as vice president of sales.

Bob loved traveling the world with Shirley and visiting their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren scattered across the country. An avid storyteller to all who would listen, he shared tales of their adventures, including seeing castles in Europe, taking a river cruise in China and riding feisty camels in Egypt. He was passionate about studying genealogy and collecting antique toys.

He taught his grandchildren woodcarving and windsurfing and orchestrated Fourth of July wind-up toy parades. He made them music boxes, puzzles, secret code wheels and toys. With his great-grandchildren, he maintained that playful spirit even into his nineties as he joined them in fishing, boating and playing board games.

A lifelong member of the Lutheran community in Columbus, Bob grew up attending St. Peter's Lutheran Church and its school. He met Shirley at a St. Peter's youth group event at Brown County State Park. He was a member of Grace Lutheran Church for many years before returning to St. Peter's.

Friends and family are invited to honor his memory during visitation from 9:30 to 11 a.m. on Friday, October 31, at St. Peter's Lutheran Church. A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. that day at the church with the Revs. Tim Carter and Mark Teike officiating. Burial will follow at Garland Brook Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Peter's Lutheran School.

Arrangements by Barkes, Weaver & Glick Funeral Home.

Condolences and special memories may be shared with the family at barkesweaverglick.com