Richard L. Taylor

Richard L. “Dick” Taylor, 85, passed away peacefully Monday March 5th, 2018, surrounded by family, after a year-long battle with cancer. He is preceded in death by his parents Robert and Elizabeth Taylor of Venice, Florida. Dick was a 1954 graduate of the Ohio State University, where as a member of “The Best Damn Band In The Land” he “dotted the I” in script Ohio. He added an MA degree in 1971 and went on to serve on the OSU faculty in the Department of Aviation for 22 years as Associate Professor Emeritus. A military and civilian pilot for 47 years, he acquired 12,000 hours of flight time in a wide variety of aircraft and held a number of aviation certificates and ratings. Dick achieved the rank of Major in the United States Air Force Reserve and traveled the world as an Air Force pilot. He was a nationally-known author of 20 books in the field of aviation; was the founder, editor, and primary contributor to the Pilot’s Audio Update for 33 years; and served many years as a consultant and expert witness in the investigation and litigation of aircraft accidents. Dick was a life member of the Sigma Chi fraternity at OSU, and in 2005 was named a “Significant Sig” by the organization, joining only 1,867 men to have achieved this honor since 1935. He was a great lover of music and a founding member of the Dublin Wind Symphony. He served as a volunteer for the Central Ohio Radio Reading Service, Meals on Wheels, and the Air Force Museum in Dayton, Ohio. He was a member of Indian Run Methodist Church in Dublin. Dick will be forever remembered by family and friends as a kind and loving man of integrity, intelligence, and good humor. He is survived by Nancy, his loving wife of 63 years; daughter Julie; son Rich (Karen) Taylor and grandsons Max and Cam; daughter Mary Beth (Mark) Farahay and granddaughters Bridget, Emma, and Hannah; sister Carol (Arthur) Bell of Venice, Florida; brothers-in-law Jim (Betty) Curtiss of London, Ohio and John (Berneda) Curtiss of Columbus. Calling hours are Sunday, March 11 from 2pm to 5pm at RUTHERFORD FUNERAL HOME AT POWELL, 450 West Olentangy Street Powell, Ohio. Funeral services will begin at 11am Monday, March 12 at INDIAN RUN METHODIST CHURCH, 6305 Brand Rd, Dublin, Ohio. A private burial service will be held at Dublin Cemetery. Dick’s family has asked that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Dublin Community Bands to help support their volunteer mission of sustaining the rich heritage of band excellence in the Dublin community. Donations can be made at www.dublinbands.com or sent to Dublin Community Bands, PO Box 4132 Dublin, Ohio 43016. To send an online condolence, please visit www.rutherfordfuneralhomes.com.

Richard L. Taylor

February 6, 1933 - March 5, 2018