Lana "Angel" Riddell Taylor

Lana Taylor, 81 of Reston, Virginia passed away on Monday, October 2, 2023 at the Reston Hospital Center, after a long battle with her second bout of breast cancer. Lana was surrounded by her family. Lana was born in Magoffin County, Kentucky in the town of Salyersville, in a little house on the edge of town to Melvin and Jean Riddell on the evening of September 26, 1942. When she was around four or five the family moved to Michigan for a short time and then to Mansfield, Ohio. Lana graduated from Mansfield Senior High in 1960. Unbeknownst to her, she would go on to meet the love of her life, in December 1960, at the L&K Restaurant Christmas Party. Very fitting that they met at a Christmas party since he called her his "Angel". His name, Robert Taylor, was also the name of a movie star at the time. Something the couple often found amusing after they were married was that people would hear her name Lana Taylor, but then call her Lana Turner; which was also the name of a movie star. Although they worked at the same restaurant, they didn't really know each other. Lana was just another coworker until Bob saw her across the room at that Christmas party. She was a carhop/cook at the restaurant and he did much of everything along with being a cook. Her true love had enlisted in the Navy which took him to Boot Camp on the West Coast. She listened to her heart and followed him clear across the country to California. She liked to tell the story of how his mom felt they were too young to get married. Lana told her, "If you won't sign for us to get married, I will just follow him around until we are old enough." Neither of them were 21 years old yet. Lana and Robert (Bob) Taylor married on December 13, 1961 in Panorama City, California; during Bob's two-week military leave. The very next day after they were wed Lana's new husband had Navy orders to report to Whidbey Island Navy Base in Washington State. Lana was able to join him about four months later. After temporary duty on Whidbey Island, it was back to California. Navy duties took them to San Francisco where their first child, a girl, Pamela was born in 1963 at Letterman Army Hospital at The Presidio of San Francisco. The Navy also had them in Vallejo and Long Beach before transferring them to the Naval Ordinance Test Unit at Patrick Air Force Base in Brevard County, Florida. This is where their second child, a boy, Steven was born during hurricane Betsy in 1965. In 1967 it was time to move on with a transfer by the Navy to Nantucket, Massachusetts for a couple of years. Then upon leaving the Navy in 1969 they settled their little family in Galion, Ohio, to be near family who were in Mansfield, Ohio. Their third child, a girl, Shanon was born in 1972 at Galion Hospital. The year 1978 took the family to Merritt Island on Florida's Space Coast due to a change in Bob's workplace. North Electric had been bought by ITT. Another company transition, several years later brought the family to Reston, Virginia in 1984. Throughout the years Lana, was a loving wife, stay at home mom, grandma and career woman working in many different places such as, Mansfield General Hospital (as a Candy Striper in her teen years), L&K Restaurant, Montgomery Ward, the dry cleaners, the church, ITT and E-Systems which was acquired by Raytheon in 1995. The last 25 years of her work life were spent at E-Systems/Raytheon. Lana retired early when she battled her first round of breast cancer and won. Lana had a strong faith in Jesus Christ that carried her through life's battles. Lana loved to sew, craft, paint, draw and garden. She loved her flowers; tulips, roses, daisies and azaleas were among her favorites. Lana also loved to cook and bake for her family. She made the best birthday cakes and apple pie. She loved holidays, and cherished having her husband and kids around her and especially loved seeing her grandchildren whenever she got the chance. She retained her adventurous spirit throughout her life and loved to explore the U.S. with her family and continued her adventures when it was once again just her and Bob at home. Lana is preceded in death by her parents Melvin & Jean (Power) Riddell. Lana is survived by her husband Robert (Bob) Taylor. They were married just short of 62 years. She is survived by her sister Diann Hammons of Mansfield, Ohio. Lana is also survived by her and Bob's three children. Pamela & Lee Mohn (her favorite son-in-law as she liked to say) of Butler, PA; Steve and Angie Taylor of Neersville, VA; Shanon Taylor of Reston, VA. Five grandchildren. Danica Taylor-Wallace, Kendrik Adams, Christopher Taylor, Dylan Taylor, Hannah Taylor, and several nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be held on October 14, 2023 at 11 a.m. at the National Funeral Home, 7482 Lee Highway, Falls Church, VA. Lana's family would like to thank the doctors, nurses and medical staff at Reston Hospital Center and Renal Care Partners of Reston for all of their tremendous care and concern. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Lana's memory to St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital at stjude.org To express condolences to the family please visit. www.NationalFH-MP.com