Dr. Robert “Bob” L. Taylor, 72, of Pioneer went home to be with the Lord Monday March 27th at home after a brief illness.
He was born on April 14, 1944 in South Bend, Indiana to Wilson and Rosa (Thornberg) Taylor. On June 21, 1997, he married Sharon A. Nolin in Quincy, Michigan and she survives.
Bob will best be remembered for his lifelong passion of serving the Lord, enjoying his family and music. Bob graduated from John Adams High School in South Bend, Indiana. He earned his Bachelor’s Degree at Houghton College in Houghton, New York; his Master’s Degree from Indiana University at Bloomington; and his Doctorate in Music at the University of North Texas in Denton, Texas. He served as a member of Pine Ridge Bible Church in Quincy where he was an Elder and the Choir Director. Bob was a member of the International Trumpet Guild. He was a founding member of Rifiner’s Fire Brass Quintet, member of the Hillsdale Wind Symphony, and actively involved in the Equip Ministry at Hillsdale College.
Bob was most recently helping in the music program at North Central Schools in Pioneer and was substituting in the local school districts. Other professional pursuits include having been on the adjunct faculty at Trine University in Angola, Indiana. Prior to that Bob was the music teacher at Lenawee Christian Schools in Adrian, Michigan from 1999-2010. He retired in 1999 from Fort Wayne Community Schools after having been a music teacher for 32 years. He also taught private music lessons and directed the brass ensemble at the Fort Wayne Bible College.
He was musically involved in the Fort Wayne Philharmonic and the Paramount Brass Quintet in Fort Wayne. His passion for music led him to perform for many musicals over the years in Fort Wayne and in Williams County. Bob loved teaching private lessons for his grandchildren and the community.
Bob is survived by his wife Sharon; children Scott Taylor of Austin, Texas, Brenda (Douglas) Loveberry of Pioneer, and Bowdee Nolin of St. Louis, Missouri; eight grandchildren Noah, Addie, Luke, Abram, Eli, Jonathan, Lucy and Ruby Loveberry; and two brothers Chuck (Susie) Taylor of Brookville, Indiana and Wilson (Linda) Taylor of Dayton, Ohio; as well as numerous nieces, nephews and other extended family. He was preceded in death by his parents.
Visitation for Bob will be on Friday, March 31st from 1-5pm at Pine Ridge Bible Church in Quincy, Michigan. Services will follow visitation Friday at 5pm at the church with Pastor Steve Briix to officiate. There will be a private interment at Floral Grove Cemetery in Pioneer.
Memorial Contributions may be given to Sharon Taylor for the future education of Bob’s grandchildren. Condolences can be left at www.thethompsonfuneralhome.com.