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Raymond C. Taylor

BOARDMAN – Raymond C. Taylor, 84, of Columbiana, passed away at St. Elizabeth Medical Center in Boardman on Jan. 1 with his family at his bedside.

Raymond was born on May 5, 1928 in Greenford, the son of William and Edith (Charleton) Taylor. He was the eldest of nine children.

A graduate of Fairfield Central High School, Raymond joined the Army Air Force in 1946. He served in occupied Japan after WWII as staff sergeant and later earned the title Air Traffic Controller before being honorably discharged in 1952.

On Aug. 16, 1949, Raymond married the former Carol Cullar. He was a longtime member of Leetonia Mennonite Church and served as lay minister for the former Hope Mennonite Church in Columbiana. He also served as an elder of Leetonia Mennonite Church.

Mr. Taylor was an active member of the Columbiana American Legion post #290. He was post commander in 1993 and was the chaplain for many years at this and other posts. He was a lifetime member of the honor guard and presented many flags to widows after military services over the years. He was very proud of his country and would often be called upon to sing the National Anthem at public events.

Raymond worked as an operating engineer, working out of Mahoning County local #66 for over 40 years. He specialized in heavy crane operation. He also would work as a Salvation Army bell ringer and was the voice of the Columbiana Street Fair. One of his favorite jobs was as Santa Claus, which he did for over 25 years, for whoever needed a visit from Santa.

Raymond leaves to cherish his precious memory, his wife, Carol; a son, Lynn Royce of Nashville, TN; a son, Lyle (Suzanne Picinich) of Youngstown; a daughter, Cindy (Tracy) Schultz of Irmo, SC; 10 grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; sisters, Lois Sauerwein, Eileen (Donald) Leiffel, and Linda Van Dyk, all of Columbiana; a sister, Marilyn (Dallas) Gallagher of Lisbon; a brother, Arlen of FL; and brothers Randall (Ellen) and Dale (Barbara), both of Columbiana.

Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by a brother, Leon Taylor, in 2012.

The family will receive friends from 1 to 3 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, January 3 at Seederly-Mong and Beck Funeral Home in Columbiana, and also from 10 to 11 a.m. Friday, Jan. 4 at the Leetonia Mennonite Church.

Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Friday at the Leetonia Mennonite Church with the Rev. Phil Slabaugh officiating.

Interment will be in Columbiana Cemetery. Following the committal service at the Columbiana Cemetery Chapel where a military honor service will be conducted by American Legion Benjamin Firestone Post 290 of Columbiana.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions be made in Raymond’s name to the St. Vincent de Paul food pantry of St. Patrick’s Church at 167 Main Street, Leetonia OH 44431 or Red Cross Blood Bank.

The Seederly-Mong and Beck Funeral Home in Columbiana has been entrusted with the arrangements.

Family and friends are invited to visit www.seederly-mongandbeck.com to sign the guestbook or to send private condolences.

1/2/13

(Paid obituary)