Robert “Bob” Taylor passed away peacefully on Saturday, December 8, at Care Partners Solace Center. He was surrounded in love by his wife, Carla, and by his four children, who came from Georgia, Montana, and Alaska to be with their dad. Bob was born on October 17, 1949, in Martin, Tennessee to Edward Penn Taylor and Nellie Jo (McClain) Taylor.
He graduated from Morristown High School in 1967 and received an Industrial Engineering degree from the University of Tennessee in 1971. While still at UT he interned at Square D Company in Asheville, NC. , where he went on to a fulfilling 42-year career as a Systems Analyst with Square D and parent-company Schneider Electric.
Bob and his first wife, Moni Taylor, raised three sons, Nick, Patrick, and Vince, and one daughter, Clancy, in Asheville. He married his current wife Carla in 2002. Bob was talented and creative, and was an adventurer at heart.
Throughout his career and retirement, he renovated many homes all over Asheville for his family using his amazing self-taught building skills. He loved hiking, mountain biking, exploring the mountains, and living in Asheville. He also enjoyed new experiences traveling to many areas inside and outside of the U.S.; and prior to his illness, he and Carla had a few wonderful RV experiences as they began Bob’s dream to tour the country in a small RV trailer.
He really cared about the many people in his life. Over the years, Bob has been compared to Andy Griffith because of his down-home common-sense and humor. His open-hearted approach invited friendships through his participation in Men’s Wisdom Works, the Appalachian Explorers group, and several church congregations in Asheville, as well as through his volunteering for organizations such as Meals on Wheels.
He had great friendships with his team of Square-D co-workers with whom he traveled for years. And he especially loved his family. When he learned of his cancer diagnosis, he fought the disease valiantly, but he also continued to life fully.
He remained active, and spent lots of precious time with his wife, parents, brother, children, and his grandchildren whom he adored. In an odd twist of fate Bob was preceded in death by his father, Edward Taylor, by only four days. He is survived by his mother, Nellie Jo Taylor; his brother, Joe Ed (Nancy); his wife, Carla (Smith) Taylor; his sons, Nicholas (Julie), Patrick (Danielle), and Vince; his daughter, Clancy Lundy (Mark); and his grandchildren Finn, Hannah, and Stella.
A celebration of Bob’s life for family and friends will be held in Asheville on January 5 or 6. Details will be announced soon. Bob and Carla suggest that in lieu of flowers, friends might consider making a donation to The American Cancer Society (or other cancer research/treatment organizations), or to the Care Partners Hospice Solace Center.
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