David Lee Taulbee November 29, 1952 – December 30, 2018 David Lee Taulbee, age 66, of Sylvania, Ohio, passed away on December 30, 2018, at Ebeid Hospice, Sylvania. He was surrounded by his loving family. He was born on November 29, 1952, in Sandusky, Ohio, to Andrew and Emily (Ashley) Taulbee.
Dave was a graduate of Start High School, and a member of the Air National Guard from 1971 until 1977. He was assigned to the 180th Tactical Fighter Group. Dave was employed as a truck driver for Seaway Food Town for 20 years, and worked as an insurance agent for Taulbee Insurance.
He was an entrepreneur at heart, opening and working many small businesses before getting into used car sales in late 1980s. He and his wife Karen were owners and operators of Austin Motors, Inc. on Secor Road from 1996-2013. Dave was an automotive wholesaler specializing in Ford products, and was so passionate about buying and selling cars.
Dave had two great friends he called his ‘buddies’, Charley Hanson and Larry Heller; each would drive Dave hundreds of miles going to auctions and looking at vehicles at least two days a week. Dave was even making deals from his hospital bed just days before his passing. Born: November 29, 1952 Death: December 30, 2018 Dave met the love of his life, his soul mate, Karen in 1994 in passing.
It wasn’t until a year later, on March 4, 1995, they had their first date at Ventura’s Mexican Restaurant. They were married 41 days later, on what Dave liked to call “Great Friday,” at Wildwood Park. Dave was very proud of his daughters’, Ann Marie and Christina, nursing careers; he mentioned it to every nurse and doctor he saw.
He enjoyed traveling, spending evenings on his new patio by the new fire pit, watching grandson Austin cooking on the new “grill”, and watching grandsons Collin and Alec play in the Northview Marching Band. He loved diet Sunkist, brownies, Inky’s Pizza, and going to dinner and movies with his grandchildren. Dave was so excited to become a great-grandpa to Payton, who was born just 12 hours after his passing.
Payton now has the most loving guardian angel looking down on her. Dave was a fighter. He overcame many obstacles since his stroke on February 23, 2008.
He was affected by paralysis of his left side, and he had to relearn how to eat, swallow, and walk. One would never know of his stroke talking to him, unless someone asked him; he never had a complaint. Left to cherish Dave’s memory with broken hearts are his loving wife of 23 years Karen (Ryan) Taulbee; children, Ann Marie (Paul) Kassab, Christina Powlesland, and step-son Joshua (Jody) Light; grandchildren, Austin (Amanda Lanigan) Powlesland, Collin Powlesland, and Alec Murd; great-grandchild, Payton Powlesland; his two beloved dogs Ryan and Roscoe who didn’t leave his side until Dave left his home to go to the hospital; brother, Randy (Hazel) Taulbee; sisters, Andrea Johnson and Pamela Postle; brothers and sisters-in-law, Ronald (Mary) Ryan, David (Uni Smith) Ryan, Loree Ryan, Deborah Sepanski, Sandra (Israel) Quiroga, Kathy (John) McCarthy, and Timothy (Julie) Ryan; and, many nieces, nephews, and friends.
Dave is preceded in death by parents, Andrew and Emily Taulbee; sister, Terri Cook; brother, Andrew Taulbee Jr.; parent-in-laws Arnold and Gloria Ryan, and brother-in-law, Michael Sepanski. The family of David Taulbee wishes to extend their sincere thanks to Dr. Barry Conlan, Dr. Eric Pizza, Dr. Timothy Kasunic, and Ebeid Hospice. A special thank you goes out to his grandson Austin for taking such great care of his grandpa the last few months of Dave’s life.
The special bond you shared with your grandpa will never be broken. Visitation and gathering will be Saturday, January 12, 2019, from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at Sujkowski Funeral Home Northpointe, located at 114 E. Alexis Road, Toledo, with the Tribute Service for Dave beginning at 3:30 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family would rather have you do an act of kindness for someone else; the family requests any memorial contributions made to Ebeid Hospice, or to a charity of the donor’s choice. You just never know, so always tell your family and friends that you love them today, tomorrow, and always!
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