Lloyd A. Taylor Obituary
ORANGE- Lloyd A. Taylor, 99, passed peacefully at home in Tully on January 19, 2025, with his family and beloved kitty Caylee by his side.
Born April 15, 1925, to William and Evangeline (Hatt) Taylor, he was one of nine children raised on “The Farm” in North Orange, Massachusetts.
Lloyd, a World War 2 veteran, graduated from Orange High School in 1942 and enlisted in the United States Navy in April 1943. While enlisted, he completed V-12 Naval Officer Training at Tufts College, along with courses at the University of Pennsylvania, University of Georgia and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Lloyd also trained at the Naval Air Station in Memphis and was stationed at the Naval Air Station in Pensacola at the time of his discharge. One of Lloyd’s proudest accomplishments was completing flight school and flying the PBY-Catalina aircraft. Following his honorable discharge in May of 1946, Lloyd remained part of the U.S. Naval Reserve until February of 1960, achieving the rank of Lieutenant Junior Grade.
Upon returning home, he worked at the Union Twist Drill Company in Athol until 1948, where he met his future wife, Barbara Symonds.
After leaving Union Twist Drill, he enrolled in Northeastern University. Lloyd graduated from Northeastern in 1953 with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering. He held many engineering positions at multiple local facilities, including Millers Falls Company, Comet Manufacturing and Niagara Cutter. He also worked at Alco Engineering in Schenectady, NY. After leaving New York, Lloyd returned to Union Twist Drill and retired from there in 1990. He was a member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, being part of the organization for over 50 years.
Some of Lloyd’s many accomplishments include; Airport Commissioner for the Town of Orange, Deputy Fire Chief of the Orange Fire Department, being part of the Crime Watch group of North Orange and Tully, working on the Tully Fire Station building committee and becoming treasurer of the Orange Police Auxiliary.
Lloyd married Barbara Symonds on July 29, 1950 and they raised 5 children, enjoying 49 years of marriage until Barbara’s death in 2000. Lloyd and Barbara lived in Schenectady, NY for a short while before moving back to Tully in 1963, where he resided for the remainder of his life.
Lloyd enjoyed attending band concerts in Goddard Park in North Orange, carrying that love of music with him throughout his life. He also enjoyed taking trips to the White Mountains with Barbara, visiting with family and tinkering with anything that needed working on. He was known for being highly organized, especially when it came to researching his family’s genealogy. He held a family reunion for his siblings and their families yearly from 1989 until 2019.
Lloyd played a role in many of the activities of the Community Church of North Orange and Tully, including lighting the Christmas tree in Goddard Park, selling ice cream and soda at the Village Fair, and maintaining the clock in the church tower. Lloyd was a known animal lover, sharing his home with various dogs and cats over the years.
Besides Barbara, Lloyd was predeceased by his parents, William and Evangeline, siblings Winona, Maurice, Everett, Murton, George, Elsie, Eleanor, and Vernon. He was also predeceased by his children Leroy, Milton and Glen Taylor and son-in-law Austin Towle.
Lloyd leaves behind his son Calvin Taylor (wife Ann) and his daughter Diana Towle, as well as his daughters-in-law Suzan Taylor, Joan Taylor, and Brenda Taylor and grandchildren Scott Taylor (wife Terrie), Emma Gooden (husband Daniel), Alisha Coleman, Nick Taylor (wife Meghan), Paige Taylor and Austina Towle. He also leaves nine great-grandchildren, 1 great, great-grandchild, and many nieces, nephews and cousins.
Calling hours will be Friday, January 24 from 6-8 p.m. at Witty’s Funeral Home, 158 South Main Street, Orange.
The funeral service will be Saturday, January 25 at 10 a.m., at Witty’s Funeral Home in Orange. A graveside service with military honors to follow at Tully Cemetery, Orange.
In lieu of flowers, donations to a local animal rescue of your choice are suggested.
Witty’s Funeral Home, 158 South Main Street, Orange, is assisting the family.
Guest book online at WWW.WITTYFUNERALHOME.COM
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