Halfred “Hal” E. Taylor of Doylestown, PA. passed away peacefully on March 28th at home. He was 87 and the devoted husband for more than 56 years of marriage to Judith Ann Taylor until her passing in 2017.
Born in Pendleton, Indiana, he was the third of four children of Frederick and Eloise Taylor (Hardy).
Growing up, Hal played basketball, was a lifeguard and ultimately ran the local swimming pool. He earned a marketing degree from Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana, after which he served in Germany with the Army. After settling in Doylestown in 1968, he coached DAA basketball and umpired little league baseball. Hal was an usher at church. He enjoyed woodworking, building the first Pinewood Derby track for our Cub Scout Pack, Hope Chests, jewelry boxes and a poker table.
Hal and Judy played couples bridge in church groups and with friends they met along the way. Hal drove the neighborhood on his tractor or in his golf cart every flag holiday, placing a small American Flag on every mailbox (in a holder he made). He loved his bird feeders, buying all kinds, designing elaborate and complicated feeder stands to draw as many varieties as possible. He also enjoyed, maybe even more than watching the birds, battling the squirrels to keep them out of the feeders.
He loved vegetable gardening. It seemed like there was always an endless supply of tomatoes, lettuce, peppers, or whatever he was growing. He made a point of personally delivering that day’s harvest to friends and family. Hal played tennis. From tennis, he made great, long-lasting friendships. When tennis wasn’t an option any longer for physical reasons, those friends became breakfast and poker friends. Watching Indiana Hoosier basketball, whether in person or on TV, was a constant.
In 1978, Hal founded his own company, Tavo Packaging, Inc. which continues to this day, producing folding cartons for a wide variety of customers. Tavo was his crowning achievement, his pride and joy. Even as he slowed down, he continued to go to “work” as often as possible. It was the highlight of his week. He cared as much about the employees as he did about the work. When Hal arrived on the plant floor, everyone’s day brightened. He LOVED Tavo and its employees, and he was loved by all.
Whether you were a college friend, church friend, tennis friend, a bridge friend, a gardening friend, a neighborhood friend, or a work friend, ultimately you were his friend.
Hal is survived by his sons, Jeffrey (Cindy) and David (Kathleen) and adored grandfather of his five grandchildren, Stuart, Katherine (Gregg), Molly, Grace, and Kevin, as well as sister, Anne Taylor.
Relatives and friends are invited to his funeral service at 11 a.m., Monday, April, 3 at Doylestown Presbyterian Church, 127 Court Street, Doylestown where the family will greet guests from 10 a.m, until the time of the service. Interment in Doylestown Cemetery will follow the service. There will be a visitation from 4 to 7 p.m., Sunday, April 2 at Reed and Steinbach Funeral Home, 2335 Lower State Road, Doylestown.
For those unable to attend in person, but wish to share in the service, the link will provide a live stream of the event. www.dtownpc.org/worship/watch-us-live/
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Hal’s name nay be made to: The Michener Art Museum – www.michenerartmuseum.org/join-support/giving-opportunities/ 138 South Pine Street, Doylestown, PA 18901 or to: ALS Association of Greater Philadelphia – https://secure.alsphiladelphia.org/ 321 Norristown Road, Suite 260, Ambler, PA 19002.