1933
James
2014
James Harry Taylor
August 8, 1933 — June 1, 2014
On Sunday, June 1, 2014, James Harry Taylor’s physical life came to an end. Jim passed comfortably and peacefully at his home of 51 years, Peaceful Acres, embraced by the love of his family and friends.
Jim was born in Essex County, NJ in 1933, a son of Mabel and Harry Taylor. He participated in a milestone event before his first birthday, taking a TWA flight with his mother and father (the pilot of the plane), becoming the youngest child to take the most modern commercial plane of the time. His father, continuing to pilot for TWA and as a “pilot-for-hire”, moved the family to Pittsburgh when Jim was a child. He was the eldest of 6 siblings. Jim worked his way through college, graduating from the University of Pittsburgh with an engineering degree. He immediately went to work for Babcock & Wilcox, where he worked as an engineer for 46 years, retiring from Framatome Technologies in 1996. An early professional milestone was serving as a consulting engineer on the first nuclear-powered commercial ship ever built, the SS Savannah. He sailed on the Savannah’s trial launches and her maiden voyage in 1962, the voyage having been christened by Mamie Eisenhower. Throughout this long career, he served in many capacities for the company. A former colleague recently reminded him of two important tenets offered by Jim upon hiring this young man: “Work hard. People count.” These words encompassed his professional life as well as his personal life and countless community endeavors.
He married Miriam Koppes in 1956 in Ohio and the newlyweds shortly thereafter moved to Lynchburg, where they have lived most of their 58 years since, proudly raising 4 children in the Lynchburg City Schools. Miriam was “everything” to him and their loving partnership has been the foundation of the Taylor family, grounded in faith, love, and connection. Jim and Miriam have been richly blessed by the opportunity to be actively involved in the lives of their 6 beloved grandchildren. Jim is survived by his wife Miriam; children: Steve (Laura), Julie, Dan (Beth) and Lisa; grandchildren: Ryan Taylor, Michele Taylor, Megan Taylor, Matt Taylor, Scottie Taylor and Ian Kocis; siblings: Dick, Jane, and Debbie, and numerous nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by siblings Robert and Dorothy.
Jim strived to live the life of a servant. He developed a mission statement which captured his model of service: “Honor God in everything I think, say, or do. Love all of creation unconditionally. Help other people live meaningful lives. Move the world’s value system toward permanent sustainability. Continuously improve the talents I’ve been given. Become an ever more joyful servant in all the roles I play so that when this phase of my life ends, it can be said, ‘Well Done’.” He fulfilled aspects of this mission every single day of his life. He and Miriam have been active members of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, where he served several terms as President, high school Sunday School teacher, and as a leader within the Virginia Synod. Their spiritual lives have centered around their faith community at Holy Trinity. Jim served the Greater Lynchburg Habitat for Humanity for many years as a board member, construction leader, house leader and a member of the “Habitat Road Crazies.”
He experienced profound satisfaction in his work with the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Lynchburg where he was a founding board member, facilities leader, chief fundraiser, mentor, and general handyman. Jim combined his love for service to youth and his passion for gardening by partnering with the Master Gardeners (as an affiliated member himself) and establishing a garden at the Club on Madison Street. Jim spent his life appreciating the beauty, abundance and mystery that God provided us in the natural world, tending a beautiful garden and landscape at home and in the community. A natural engineer and lifelong learner, he loved to design, build, create, nurture, study and reflect. Jim lived each day in gratitude. Toward the end of his life, Jim said that if he knew he had only one day left, he would spend it saying thanks to all who made his life interesting, happy, rewarding and challenging.
“Well Done.”
Jim and his family have been comforted beyond description by the words, prayers, gestures, care and love given to them all during the last few weeks. A celebration of Jim’s life will be held at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church on Saturday, June 7th at 11 a.m. The family requests that those wishing to honor Jim’s memory do so by considering a donation to either Holy Trinity or the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Lynchburg.
Tharp Funeral Home and Crematory, Lynchburg (434-237-9424) is assisting the family.
Jim was born in Essex County, NJ in 1933, a son of Mabel and Harry Taylor. He participated in a milestone event before his first birthday, taking a TWA flight with his mother and father (the pilot of the plane), becoming the youngest child to take the most modern commercial plane of the time. His father, continuing to pilot for TWA and as a “pilot-for-hire”, moved the family to Pittsburgh when Jim was a child. He was the eldest of 6 siblings. Jim worked his way through college, graduating from the University of Pittsburgh with an engineering degree. He immediately went to work for Babcock & Wilcox, where he worked as an engineer for 46 years, retiring from Framatome Technologies in 1996. An early professional milestone was serving as a consulting engineer on the first nuclear-powered commercial ship ever built, the SS Savannah. He sailed on the Savannah’s trial launches and her maiden voyage in 1962, the voyage having been christened by Mamie Eisenhower. Throughout this long career, he served in many capacities for the company. A former colleague recently reminded him of two important tenets offered by Jim upon hiring this young man: “Work hard. People count.” These words encompassed his professional life as well as his personal life and countless community endeavors.
He married Miriam Koppes in 1956 in Ohio and the newlyweds shortly thereafter moved to Lynchburg, where they have lived most of their 58 years since, proudly raising 4 children in the Lynchburg City Schools. Miriam was “everything” to him and their loving partnership has been the foundation of the Taylor family, grounded in faith, love, and connection. Jim and Miriam have been richly blessed by the opportunity to be actively involved in the lives of their 6 beloved grandchildren. Jim is survived by his wife Miriam; children: Steve (Laura), Julie, Dan (Beth) and Lisa; grandchildren: Ryan Taylor, Michele Taylor, Megan Taylor, Matt Taylor, Scottie Taylor and Ian Kocis; siblings: Dick, Jane, and Debbie, and numerous nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by siblings Robert and Dorothy.
Jim strived to live the life of a servant. He developed a mission statement which captured his model of service: “Honor God in everything I think, say, or do. Love all of creation unconditionally. Help other people live meaningful lives. Move the world’s value system toward permanent sustainability. Continuously improve the talents I’ve been given. Become an ever more joyful servant in all the roles I play so that when this phase of my life ends, it can be said, ‘Well Done’.” He fulfilled aspects of this mission every single day of his life. He and Miriam have been active members of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, where he served several terms as President, high school Sunday School teacher, and as a leader within the Virginia Synod. Their spiritual lives have centered around their faith community at Holy Trinity. Jim served the Greater Lynchburg Habitat for Humanity for many years as a board member, construction leader, house leader and a member of the “Habitat Road Crazies.”
He experienced profound satisfaction in his work with the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Lynchburg where he was a founding board member, facilities leader, chief fundraiser, mentor, and general handyman. Jim combined his love for service to youth and his passion for gardening by partnering with the Master Gardeners (as an affiliated member himself) and establishing a garden at the Club on Madison Street. Jim spent his life appreciating the beauty, abundance and mystery that God provided us in the natural world, tending a beautiful garden and landscape at home and in the community. A natural engineer and lifelong learner, he loved to design, build, create, nurture, study and reflect. Jim lived each day in gratitude. Toward the end of his life, Jim said that if he knew he had only one day left, he would spend it saying thanks to all who made his life interesting, happy, rewarding and challenging.
“Well Done.”
Jim and his family have been comforted beyond description by the words, prayers, gestures, care and love given to them all during the last few weeks. A celebration of Jim’s life will be held at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church on Saturday, June 7th at 11 a.m. The family requests that those wishing to honor Jim’s memory do so by considering a donation to either Holy Trinity or the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Lynchburg.
Tharp Funeral Home and Crematory, Lynchburg (434-237-9424) is assisting the family.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of James Harry Taylor, please visit our flower store.
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