Orvis Wesley Taylor
1946 – 2022
Beloved father, husband and friend, Orvis Wesley Taylor (Wes), age 76, passed from this world on Saturday, December 31, 2022. Wes was born in 1946 to Orvis and Wilma Taylor, who have preceded him in death. He is also preceded by his brother Larry.
Wes grew up in Tulsa, Oklahoma. After graduating from Will Rogers High School, he entered the Air Force, where he spent four years serving his country in the Philippines, Guam, Okinawa, and various locations in the U.S. After separating from the Air Force, he earned a bachelor’s degree in Nuclear Engineering at the University of Oklahoma at Norman. While a student, he worked at NASA in a co-op program in Huntsville, Alabama. It was there that he met his wife Frances on a blind date, and they married a few months later.
After earning a master’s degree in Nuclear Engineering at the University of Missouri at Columbia in 1977, Wes had a distinguished career in the government for 38 years, first with TVA in Chattanooga, Tennessee and then with the Department of Energy in Washington, D.C. He left the government in 2011 and relocated with his wife to Tulsa, Oklahoma, where he worked as a government consultant. After retiring in 2021, Wes moved with his wife to Pelham, Alabama in June 2022 to be close to her family.
Wes loved his job, but also had several hobbies that he was passionate about, including history, chess, and genealogical research. A seasoned traveler, Wes and Frances visited various countries in Europe. His favorite places were France and Portugal.
Wes was well-read and intellectually curious. He had a sharp and analytical mind, and one of his greatest joys was having deep conversations with others. He was a hard-working and considerate colleague, and a loyal trustworthy friend. He will be remembered for his truthfulness and integrity, as well as his dedication to his family. Wes sacrificed for his family with the goal of ensuring his children earned a college degree. He took enormous pride in seeing all his children earn advanced degrees.
He is survived by his loving wife of 53 years, Frances Taylor; his children, Tiffany Taylor Attaway (Tim) of Chantilly, VA, Patrick Taylor (Jenny) of Howell, MI, and Pamela Taylor of Akita, Japan; his grandchildren, Aurelia, Laurel, Penelope, and Liam; his brothers Phillip and Steven.
Wes’s passing has left the world a sadder place, but he will live on in our cherished memories of a loving husband, father, grandfather, and friend. We thank you for gathering with us today to celebrate the life of our husband, father, and grandfather.
Services will be held Thursday, January 5, 2023 at Oak Mountain Baptist Church. A visitation will be held at 11 am followed by a service at 12 noon. Wes will be laid to rest with Honors in Oak Mountain Baptist Church Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Folds of Honor Foundation, which provides scholarships to the children of fallen and disabled military personnel, at foldsofhonor.org.