William Joseph Taylor, Jr., 83

William Joseph Taylor, Jr., 83, of Rutherfordton, passed away May 10, 2018.

William was born in Buffalo, NY to William Sr. and Helen Taylor on December 23, 1934. He grew up and graduated high school in Buffalo. After graduation he served in the Army in Germany. Upon his discharge from the Army he married Mary E. Bruso in 1956. They moved to Cleveland, Ohio where he went on to earn an Associate degree in History from Case Western Reserve. He worked as a trucking company Traffic Manager in Buffalo, Cleveland and North East, PA. He and his wife Mary raised their 3 children in North East and lived there for 15 years. They relocated to NC for a new job in 1984. He went on to work for the Post Office there, where he ultimately retired. He enjoyed travel and visited numerous countries throughout Europe. He was especially interested in the historical aspects of the

countries he visited. He was an avid reader and spent many happy hours engrossed in historical novels. In his younger years he enjoyed spending time on the golf course with his family and sailing the family boat on Lake Erie. He was a supporter of the Smithsonian Institution all of his life.

William is preceded in death by his parents, William Sr. and Helen; his wife Mary E. Taylor, and a brother Thomas Taylor. William is survived by his sisters Nancy Buettner of Florida and Mary Ann Quigley of California; sons William S. Taylor, Christopher J. Taylor; daughter Katherine T. Jackson and numerous nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Nature Conservancy or the Smithsonian Institution.

A Memorial Service will be held at the North Carolina Veterans Cemetery in Black Mountain, NC on Friday June 22 at 3:20pm.

Crowe's Mortuary is assisting the family.