Taylor, Richard Edward 'Dick'

Richard Edward “Dick” Taylor, 89, of 1513 Glendale Rd., Iowa City, died peacefully at home on Monday, Jan. 14, 2013. Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Friday at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Iowa City. The Rev. Steve Witt will officiate. Burial will follow at St. Joseph Cemetery with military graveside rites. Visitation will be held from 4 to 6 p.m. Thursday at Lensing Funeral Service in Iowa City.

Instead of flowers, the family requests memorials to St. Mary's Church or the Knights of Columbus.

Dick was born July 2, 1923, in Reinbeck, Iowa, the second son of Rex Edward and Rose Bess (Dvorak) Taylor. He graduated from Reinbeck High School in 1941 and then attended Upper Iowa University in Fayette. He met and married Eleanor Marie Maier June 27, 1942. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served in the South Pacific theatre as a Radarman 1st class on a destroyer escort - USS Snyder DE 745 during World War II. Just before the war's end, he was assigned to the USS Ruchamkin APD 89 in the Atlantic theatre and later discharged from the Navy in December 1945.

He earned a bachelor of arts degree in education from Upper Iowa University, then served one year as acting principal of Lamont High School, Lamont. He then earned his Master of Science degree in education at Drake University, Des Moines. Dick was principal at Corydon High School, Corydon, for three years. In 1953, he then took the principality at Waukon High School, Waukon, and served there for 12 years where he helped consolidate area schools and assisted in building a new senior high school.

During this time he received his Education Specialist degree from the University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls, Iowa. In 1965, he came to Iowa City as principal at Iowa City High School and completed more education at the University of Iowa. He served 14 years in that capacity and his last six years at the Iowa City school board office as assistant director of personnel. He retired from education in 1985.

He was a member of the City High Hall of Fame 1982. Dick was a 4th degree Knights of Columbus Iowa City Marquette Council 842, a member of the American Legion, St. Mary's Catholic Church and the Iowa Association of Secondary School Principals.

He is survived by his wife, Eleanor of Iowa City; their four children, Mary (David) Harris of OKatie, S.C., James (Carolyn) of Cedar Rapids, Rick of Longmont, Colo. and Ellen (Dennis) Gerard of LeClaire; nine grandchildren, Traci (Ron) Weber, Susan (David) Odom, Taylor (Julie Binz) Harris, Andrew Taylor, Sara (Russ) Dueker, Philip (Sheena) Taylor U.S.N., Michael (Rachel) Gerard, James (Jenniffer) Gerard and Joseph (fiancee Michelle Thompson) Gerard; and five great-grandsons.

He was preceded in death by his parents; and a brother, Capt. James I. Taylor, fighter pilot lostin World War II.

Online condolences may be sent to the family at

Published in The Gazette Jan. 16, 2013.