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JOHN TAYLOE will be remembered for many things. He will be remembered for his wit and his sense of humor, for his dedication to family and his faith. For his service to our country. But mostly, he'll be remembered as the unique person that made him a special person who touched so many lives.      

He was an idealist who sought to bring harmony to those around him. Even though John was enthusiastic and generous, it was sometimes difficult for him to boast about his accomplishments. John had strong personal convictions, making it hard for him to relinquish those ideals he held dearest to himself. John's life motto was always to hope for the best and work hard towards that end, but be prepared for some of life's disappointments. This philosophy was a continual driving force in his life, but it did not extinguish the bright light that defined the dreamer in John, something that was always there and that he readily shared with everyone around him.

      John was born on September 23, 1924 at Hollywood Hospital in Los Angeles, (Hollywood) CA. His parents were Chester and Hallie Tayloe. He was a second-generation native Californian... a real rarity in 1924! John was raised in Hollywood and Toluca Lake, California. As a youngster, John demonstrated an excellent vocabulary and command of language. He was a compassionate person, a quality that he would carry with him throughout his life. Even at a young age, John was sensitive to his parents' moods and worked hard to please them and live up to their expectations. Of both his parents, John was said to be more like his mother Hallie.

      He had one younger brother, Ralph. John was constantly involved in activities with his brother. John and his brother cared deeply for one another.

      In his spare time he liked model railroading and photography.

      High school was a time for John to seek out knowledge. He enjoyed learning and had a natural interest in gathering information. John was very expressive and articulate, especially when it came to his writing. John took his education seriously. He graduated from John Marshall High School in Hollywood, CA in 1942. He enjoyed some courses more than others, having favorite classes and teachers. His favorite class in high school was cooking and home economics.

      While those who did not know him well found John to be somewhat reserved until they got to know him, he was an authentic and devoted friend. John was a tranquil person, with an easygoing and open-minded attitude towards life. He presented a pleasant face to the outside world but concealed the pain and discomfort he felt over his own friends' difficulties. John sought to achieve harmony with everyone and possessed the ability to mend conflicts and avoid interpersonal struggles. Later in life, he became friends with John Squibb, Frank Bardell, Ed Paget, Bob Chesney, Ray Gerve and Jan Hurley.

      The desire for romance was always present in John's life. He succeeded in finding it on September 7, 1973, when John exchanged wedding vows with Diane (Daniels) Lewallen at In the family home of Needles, CA. His deep loyalty and a strong commitment to his vows brought a sense of completeness to their marriage.

      John was a gentle person who held deep feelings for his children. He enjoyed having fun with his kids and was at times fiercely protective of them. John showed great empathy in his willingness to give every family member a voice in family decisions. He was blessed with Two, John raised his niece and nephew, Nanci and Vincent as his own children.

      Blessed with a strong sense of integrity, John was as loyal and committed in his work as he was in the rest of his life. John worked well with fellow employees and showed great cooperation in reaching common goals. Though he had a tendency to take on too many tasks, himself; John showed great patience with complicated situations. He was ingenious and trusted his intuition. For John, the application of logic could be optional, and while that sometimes bothered his co-workers, John always seemed to be able to get the job done. He was most comfortable working on the projects and jobs that he strongly supported. His primary occupation was a engineer. He was employed for 28 years by Pacific Gas & Electric Company. John always tried to be a team player, doing what was necessary in order to get the job done.

      John was a World War II US Army Air Force (USAAF) Veteran. He was attached to the "Mighty" 8th Air Force and flew seven harrowing bombing missions over Germany in a B-17 "Flying Fortress" Bomber - the final mission of which became a legend of the war. He was shot down over Germany and held 18 months in a Nazi prison camp - at Stalag Luft 1 near Barth, Germany. Through his hard work and dedication, he achieved the rank of Staff Sergeant. He received several awards including a Purple Heart, Prisoner of War Medal, Good Conduct Medal, Air Combat Medal with Bronze Star, WWII Victory Medal, European Campaign Medal and Bomber Air Crew "Wings," and was personally commended for herosim (postumously while still missing in action in 1944) by Lt. Col. Doolittle.

      John enjoyed his leisure time by taking part in various hobbies. His favorite pursuits were computers, the desert, home improvement, family and church. John was content to enjoy his hobbies alone but he was also willing to share his interests with others.

      John was an eternal idealist, and his deep concern for others made him a valuable asset to the many clubs and organizations to which he belonged. Because he truly wanted to make a difference, John was actively involved in these kinds of groups throughout his life. John was passionate in his beliefs and being a very skilled communicator, he could really come alive when involved in a project. Throughout his later years, John was an active member of the Masonic Lodge, Eastern Star, Jobs Daughters, Rainbow Girls, Demolay, American Prisoners of War, VFW, and St. John's Episcopal Church.

      John took all of his personal and moral obligations seriously. John was a strong defender of his faith. He was a member of St. John's Episcopal Church for 34 years. During that time, he was the church treasurer, church grounds keeper and handyman!

      Being a selfless person, John did not seek approval from his peers, but he valued the recognition he received for his good deeds. Some of his most prestigious awards included Masonic Hiram Award, and Cross of Color, Rainbow Girls.

      John enjoyed traveling and going away on vacations. Taking trips provided the chance for him to kick back and relax, to visit new places and see new things. Favorite vacations included three trips to Europe to visit WWII sites and return to the site of his bomber crash and POW camp.

      John was a lover of animals and cherished his pets. One of John's favorites was "Blackjack" a dachshund. They were best friends for 3 years. His family was rounded out by his "Bonnie" small-breed cross, dog, "Eppy" bob tailed gray tabby cat.

      John retired from PG&E in 1983. In retirement, he found new pleasure in staying active in church and taking computer classes at the local community center, Masonic lodge, POW groups, and travel. Even in retirement, John continued to stay in touch with his old friends while making plenty of new acquaintances. He was active in the community and felt fulfilled with the opportunities that retirement offered him.

      John passed away on February 6, 2008 at the family home in Needles, CA. He passed away peacefully at home after a very brief setback from a stroke. He is survived by Nanci and Vincent; brother Ralph and sister-in-law Marjorie, and their five children, and other relatives. John was laid to rest in the family plot, next to Diane at Needles Riverview Cemetery. John was buried with full military honors, provided by the United States Air Force, which included an Honor Guard flag folding, Buegler playing "taps," a 21-gun rifle salute, and an Air Force flyover of a B-1 Strategic Bomber.

      Mr. John E. Tayloe was someone who was able to see the world as a good and honorable place. He viewed the people who inhabited it as essentially good. A person who tended to see the world in terms of black and white, John tried to focus on the good he saw, knowing that there were times he would have to compromise. He was selfless and deeply committed to all things positive and good. John was a person who would keep his eye on tomorrow and constantly held onto his dreams. It was this exceptional insight and quiet reserve that became John's trademark qualities for all who knew him, and it was one of the many reasons why all who knew him loved John E. Tayloe.