Kenneth Gordon Taylor

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Celebrating the life of
Kenneth Gordon TaylorMarch 09, 1921 - May 19, 2015

Savannah- Kenneth Gordon Taylor of Skidaway Island, Savannah, GA (formerly of Atlanta, GA) died on May 19, 2015, at the age of 94. Born March 9, 1921, in Pawtucket, RI, he was the son of the late Edwin Miles Taylor and Wilhelmina Augusta Kern Taylor. He graduated from Rhode Island State College, now the University of Rhode Island, in 1943 with a degree in Civil Engineering. Ken ran cross country and track and was a member of the URI national champion cross country team in 1942. He served as President of Tau Kappa Epsilon Fraternity and was inducted into the URI Sports Hall of Fame in 1984.

Entering military service immediately after graduation, Ken served in the 1899^th Engineering Aviation Battalion, rose to the rank of captain in the Army Corps of Engineers and was stationed in the Pacific Theatre (Guam, Tinian, and the Marianas) where he built airfields for B-29s.

Following WW II, Ken worked in construction management and was involved in numerous pulp and paper mill installations throughout the Southeast. Initially with J.E. Sirrine Co. of Greenville, SC, in 1958 he helped establish Eastern Engineering Company, an Atlanta based consulting engineering and design firm serving primarily the forest products industry. He rose to Executive Vice President and the company earned industry wide recognition. In 1971, Eastern associated with H.A. Simons, Ltd., of Vancouver, BC, to become Simons-Eastern Consultants, Inc. Ken was President from 1982 – 1986 and retired in 1987.

Ken was active in engineering and professional associations, earned a number of awards and honors and was a strong supporter of academic programs and research. He served on the Georgia Tech Pulp & Paper Industry Advisory Committee, chairman 1975-1986; the Georgia Tech Foundation Board of Directors which he also chaired; and the Georgia Tech Research Corporation Board of Directors, serving five years as vice-chairman, two years as chairman, and emeritus since 1995. He established the Kenneth G. Taylor P.E. Scholarship with the Georgia Engineering Foundation.

In addition, Ken was founding secretary and subsequently president of the DeKalb Chapter of the Georgia Society of Professional Engineers; served as vice president and president of the Georgia Society of Professional Engineers; and later was a national director for the National Society of Professional Engineers. In 1988, he received the Georgia Engineering Foundation Medal of Honor for Exemplary Service to his profession and community, and was also a recipient of Engineer of the Year of Metropolitan Atlanta, Private Practice, Georgia; and GSPE Engineer of the Year, Georgia.

He was a communicant of St. Bartholomew’s Episcopal Church, Atlanta, for 47 years, where he served on the vestry numerous terms, was a lay reader and a Lay Eucharistic Minister. After moving to Skidaway Island in 2005, Ken became a faithful member of St. Peter’s Episcopal Church.

He helped establish Jerusalem House in Atlanta; he was a past president of the Atlanta Optimist Club; and served five years as a director on the board of the Warren Memorial Boys Club.

Ken was married to the late Margaret Baron Taylor, who died in 2010, for 61 years.

He is survived by his daughter Virginia Taylor Beard and husband David of Greenville, SC; son K. Gordon Taylor, Jr. and wife Kathleen of Savannah; son David E. Taylor and wife Charlotte of Kensington, MD. He leaves six grandchildren: Elisabeth Beard Anders, Laura Beard Allen, Emily Taylor Bever, Kenneth G. Taylor, III, Grahme E. Taylor and Julia P. Taylor, and five great grandchildren. Ken is also survived by his younger brother Edwin F. Taylor of Pawtucket, RI, and was predeceased by older brother Clayton M. Taylor of Arlington TX.

A service celebrating Ken’s life will be held at 4 p.m. Friday, May 22 at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church on Skidaway Island. Interment will follow in St. Peter’s Memorial Garden.

A reception will follow.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions may be made to the Marshes of Skidaway Endowment Fund, 95 Skidaway Island Park Road, Savannah, GA 31411; the St. Peter’s Episcopal Church Music Program, 3 West Ridge Road, Savannah, GA, 31411; and to Hospice Savannah, 1352 Eisenhower Drive, Savannah, GA, 31406.

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Gordon, we are so sorry for your loss. I grew up working for your Dad at Eastern Engineering Co. He was tone of the GOOD guys.

- George and Fran Ryals III, Stone Mountain, GA

Mr. Taylor was one of the most Godly man I knew! He cared about people, and prayed for them. I will truly miss him. I have nothing but fond memories of him! My prayers are with all the family. Hugs to you all! God's Peace

- Amy Blasingame Tsangarides, Dacula, Ga

I am praying for your family that our Lord will bless you and give you His peace. I am so glad that the Taylors and Colemans have so many good memories. My love to all.

- Winona Coleman Sexton, Cross Hill, SC - South Carolina

Dear Ginnie So very sorry for the loss of your dad. We are thinking of you and your family at this time. Jim and Jane

- Jim Ellefson, Greenville, SC

We are so very sorry to hear about your dad's death and your family's loss. Please know that we are thinking about all of you.

- Debbie and Mark Long, Columbia, Sc

Dearest Ginnie, Gordon and David, You had a wonderful father whom we feel so fortunate to have known. You are all in our thoughts and prayers. Love Ann, Deborah and our family.

- Ann Taylor and family, Savannah, GA

Ginnie, Gordon, David, Spouses and Grandchildren, We are sorry for your loss of a wonderful father and grandfather. He was a man of accomplishment and integrity and a wonderful example for his entire family. It was our good fortune to have known him. You are all in our thoughts and prayers. John and Kay Allen

- Kay and John Allen, MONETA, VA - Virginia