William Taylor Obituary

William "Bill" Croxton Taylor passed away on May 22, 2024, moving on from a life he was often known to describe simply as, "blessed". Bill lived a gracious life, knew his fair share of grit, and awoke every day with something to be happy about. Bill, or 'Grandpa Billy' to his cherished grandchildren, was in his own words, "a very lucky man."

Bill was born on Valentines Day, 1939, in Dayton, Ohio, as the third of six 'Taylor kids' to John and Margaret Taylor. He graduated from Oakwood High School in 1956 and resided in the Oakwood area until moving to Durango, Colorado in 2006. A proud veteran, he joined the U.S. Army in 1958, serving two years stationed in South Korea. After the army, Bill returned to Ohio to work with his father in the family typesetting business, Dayton Typographic Services, becoming President in 1976 until the business closed in 1993. In 1974, he established WCT, Inc. a prosperous proofreading business. An avid racquetball player, he was the founder of Congress Park, a racquetball club in Dayton, Ohio, where he became the state racquetball champion in 1991. He was a skilled marksman, a licensed pilot at age 15 and a pioneer during the early age of computers.

Bill's deep faith led him to be an active member of St. Columba Catholic Church where he devoted himself to serving his community. He joined the Knights of Columbus and achieved the 4th degree designation. He lived his life with humility, grace, and unwavering positivity. He was happy living, cooking, and camping in the vast Western landscapes he loved, with his wife Barbara, whom he adored.

Bill is survived by his loving wife, Barbara Taylor and his first wife Dawn Taylor and their four children, William, Jr. (Bo), Matthew, Shannon, and Wendy, and seven cherished grandchildren.

A mass honoring Bill will be held at 10:00 AM on Monday, July 1st at St. Columba Catholic Church. Flowers may be sent to Hood Mortuary in Durango, Colorado. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Alzheimer's Association of Colorado.