Richard Ralph Taylor

Richard Ralph Taylor, 89, was called home to be with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Monday, July 18th, after a gallant effort to recover from illness. Born in Toledo to Ralph Myron Taylor and Mary Ida McCauley on March 15, 1927, but raised in Maumee, Ohio, Richard was proud to serve his beloved community. As an active Boy Scout member and leader, he enjoyed time spent at Camp Miakonda. As a student and graduate of Maumee Schools, he was on the basketball and baseball teams. Richard served as a U.S. Army Corporal and Squad Leader in the Battery B, 571st Anti-Aircraft Artillery Battalion, Automatic Weapons, in Germany during WWII. Later, he served the Maumee Police Department for 32 years, attaining the rank of Sergeant and the nickname “Barney”. He was one of the first officers when Maumee became a city. In 1950 his act of saving a drowning girl in icy Swan Creek in the winter, even though he could not swim, was featured in New Heroic Comics, a comic book featuring various heroes. After retirement from the Police Department, he worked at Toledo Hospital as an EMT and a security officer where he also played on the hospital basketball team until age 70, acquiring the nickname “Pickles”. Throughout the years, he earned military awards, sharpshooter awards, and completed numerous trainings. He was a member of FOP Maumee Valley Lodge 118, Toledo Retired Police Officers Association, American Legion Post 320, Veterans of Foreign Wars Perrysburg Post 6170, the Eagles, and St. Paul’s Lutheran Church - Maumee. Because of his service through the years, he was honored by the City of Maumee when the mayor proclaimed “Richard Taylor Day” on May 16, 2015. Left to cherish his memory include his daughters Mary Ann (Brian) Mette, Barbara (Gary) Beverly, Carol (Mark) Tanner, brother William (Mary) Taylor, ten grandchildren (Sean, Peter (Mary), Amanda, Ashley, Heather (Michael), Nathan (McKenna), Rebecca (Cam), Katie (Jackson), Anna, & Johnathan), eight great-grandchildren (Alijah, Sophia, William, Alivia, Abigail, Katelyn, Kamryn, & Izzy), and several nephews and nieces. Richard was preceded in death by his wife Maria Anna (Kramp) Taylor, his daughter Sharon Taylor, who passed away from ALS, as well as his sister Phyllis Newman and recently, his precious companion/dog Cider. The family wishes to thank the staff of St Luke’s Hospital, Kingston Rehab, and Hospice of Northwest Ohio for their loving care of Richard. Visitation will be on Friday, July 22nd, from 5 - 8 pm at Maison Dardenne Walker Funeral Home Maumee as well as from 11-12 pm on Saturday, July 23rd, at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Maumee where the funeral service will follow at noon. After internment at Ottawa Hills Memorial Park, a luncheon will be held at the church. In lieu of flowers, the family invites you to honor Richard by serving a neighbor. Donations can also be made in his name to the Maumee FOP Memorial Fund at 109 E. Dudley St., Maumee, Ohio 43537, or The ALS Association Northern Ohio Chapter, 6155 Rockside Rd #403, Independence, Ohio 44131.