Timothy M. Taylor

Timothy M. Taylor, 72, of Benton Harbor, went to meet his Lord & Savior Jesus Christ, Sunday, February 17, 2013 at McLaren Northern Michigan Hospital, following a fall which resulted in a severe head injury. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated 11:00 A.M. Friday at St. Bernard’s Catholic Church, 555 E. Delaware Ave., Benton Harbor, with Fr. William J. Jacobs, Jr. officiating. Cremation will follow the service with private services at Cedar Grove Cemetery, Notre Dame, Indiana. Friends may call from 5:00 until 7:00 P.M. Thursday at Starks & Menchinger Chapel, 2650 Niles Rd., St. Joseph, with the Rosary recited at 7:00 P.M. Memorials may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association or Hospice at Home. Those wishing to sign Tim’s Memory Book online may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com. Tim was born April 2, 1940 in Detroit, Michigan to Dr. Nelson M. & Norma Coyle Taylor. He graduated from University of Detroit Jesuit High School and Academy in 1958, University of Notre Dame in 1962 with a Bachelor of Science and Mechanical Engineering, studied Advanced Engineering at the University of Michigan in 1963, and earned his MBA from University of Notre Dame in 1973. Tim was employed by Teledyne Control Systems Division in El Segundo, CA where he helped in the engineering for the Lunar Lander System for the Apollo Moon Missions, and worked on space and defense systems for the military and space programs. After leaving Teledyne, he joined Whirlpool Corp. in 1973, retiring in 2004 as Regional Financial Vice president and Controller of Latin America. Tim was an active member of St. John/St. Bernard Parish, volunteered at Hospice at Home for 11 years, served on the board of directors for the Montessori School in Benton Harbor, as a village councilman for Shoreham, an advisor for Benton Harbor Area Schools, and volunteered for Habitat for Humanity for 5 years through Whirlpool. Tim enjoyed sailing, which he learned at Culver Military Academy and practiced on several Mackinac races, traveling, camping and most of all-his children & grandchildren. Most importantly, Tim was a man of faith, always trusting in his Lord & Savior. Tim is survived by his wife of nearly twenty-one years, the former Laura L. Di Paolo Peters; his children- Mark (Andrea) Taylor of Lake Forest, IL, Jeff (Andrea) Taylor of Rye, NY, Andrew Taylor of Chicago, IL; step-children-Kylee (Carlos) Peters Barajas, Kimberlee Peters, & Sheila Peters Lehker; grandchildren Christopher & Andrew Lehker, Kevin Taylor, Alexandra & Anthony “AJ” Barajas & Benjamin Taylor; and his sister Jill Buyan of Harbor City, CA. He was preceded in death by his parents and an older brother Michael Taylor. He will be greatly missed because he was greatly loved.