William Hilyer Taylor Jr., of Issaquah, died Saturday, March 28, 2015, at the age of 88.
Born on Aug. 28, 1926, in Buffalo, New York, the son of William H. Sr. and Irene Taylor. He graduated from Nichols High School in Buffalo, and attended Dartmouth College, and Harvard Business School, receiving an M.A. in business.
He served in the United States Air Force during the latter portion of World War II. He moved to the Seattle area with his family in 1982 and joined the Spokane-based Sonderen Packaging Co. as the Western Washington Regional Sales Manager, retiring in 1991.
Bill was a successful athlete, playing hockey for Nichols High School and also for Dartmouth College, where he was member of a second-place National Championship team. Bill loved tennis, skiing, sailing and hiking throughout his life, and stayed active into his 80s. But most of all, he loved spending time with his family, friends and his dogs.
Bill was always fascinated with the tugboats and freighters that plied the Great Lakes near his childhood home. He once identified a ship’s name, ownership, port of call, cargo and destination just from the smoke its engines cast on the horizon.
Bill is survived by his wife Faris N. Taylor; his daughter Melissa I. Ferdinandi; son William N. Taylor; and five grandchildren, Matthew, Dylan, Erin, Hilary and Jon.
In honor of Bill’s wishes, there will be no funeral or memorial service. The family suggests remembrances to the Union Gospel Mission in Seattle.