Obituary and Memorial Service Information

Thomas E. Taylor

Thomas “Tom” Edwin Taylor, 84, passed away peacefully, surrounded by his family, after a long fight with Alzheimer’s, on July 17, in Las Vegas, NV. He was born and raised in Telluride, Colorado, the son of Dr. Edwin and Hester Taylor.

After graduating from high school he studied mechanical engineering at the University of Colorado in Boulder. In 1942 he enlisted into the Navy and fought for two years in WW II before finishing his BS degree at the expense of the Navy. He went on for his master’s degree and received a commission as 2nd Lieutenant, but had to leave the university to reenter the Navy to fight in the Korean War. A year later he was promoted to 1st Lieutenant.

At the end of the war he left the Navy and started working for the Federal Government, the U.S. Geological Survey in Denver, Colorado. He retired in 1993 after 42 years of service. While working for the U.S.G.S. he volunteered for four seasons in the Antarctica, seven summers in Alaska, and served 2 _ years in Jidda, Saudi Arabian, on loan to the Ministry of Petroleum. Tom returned to Alaska in 1975 and was a recognized expert on Alaskan Place Names. He served at the pleasure of the Governor for many years on the Alaskan Historical Commission.

Tom was very active in several local engineering societies and in 1998 was elected into the Hall of Fame of the Alaska Surveying and Mapping Society. He was a great mountain climber who conquered many high peaks including Mt Kenya.

Tom was an avid coin collector who participated in many local events. In 1966, while returning from his Saudi Arabian duty, he met his wife, Edith, in Salzburg, Austria. Tom is survived by his wife of 41 years, Edith, his three daughters, RoseAnn Platt, Susanne Taylor, and Sylvia Taylor, son- in -law Robert Platt, and four grandchildren Isabelle 10, Thomas 9, Stephanie 8, and Sophia 5.

Tom will be laid to rest at the Fort Richardson Veteran Memorial Cemetery, on Friday, August 29, at 2:30 PM. A reception will follow. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to Alaska Pacific University where Edith will be setting up a scholarship in Tom's name. Edith’s address: 2336 Hot Oak Ridge St. Las Vegas, NV 89134.