A. Richard Taylor

Ansel Richard Taylor, 88, passed away peacefully on February 19, 2018. Richard was born on May 10, 1929 in Lakemont, Georgia to Zeb and Gracie Teems Taylor. He grew up on Lake Rabun and worked as a teenager for Halls Boat House, giving rides to visitors. After graduating from high school, Richard enlisted in the Army, serving in the American occupation forces in Japan after the end of World War II. Upon returning to the States, Richard was hired as a tool and die maker at Atlantic Steel Company where he worked for 35 years.

He met his beloved wife-to-be, Helen Glenn, at Inman Park Baptist Church. They celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary on Valentine’s Day of this year. After retiring from Atlantic Steel, Richard and Helen became the leaders of the single adult ministry at First Baptist Church of Atlanta. Richard later was ordained and became the Singles Pastor at First Baptist.

In his free time, Richard loved woodworking (which led to his creation of Taylor Made Wood Products, a plastic-laminated plaque making business, while still working at Atlantic Steel), riding a series of Harley-Davidson motorcycles (especially on the Blue Ridge Parkway), traveling with his extended family, and enjoying his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Richard was a devoted Bible scholar who enjoyed sharing nuggets of truth from the scriptures with others. He reflected God’s love like a prism. Like the kaleidoscopes he made in his woodworking, he reflected God’s love and truth to those he met.

Richard was preceded in death by his parents, his sister, Marie Lewis, and his great-granddaughter, Lucy Rockett. In addition to his wife, he is survived by children LuAnn (Alan) Rockett and Leslie (Ruben) Helfgot, grandchildren Anna (Randall) Potter, Mark (Jenny) Rockett, and Rebekah Helfgot, and great grandchildren Ellie, Charlie, Sam and Zeke.

The funeral service will be held on Friday, February 23, at 1:30 pm at H. M. Patterson and Son Oglethorpe. The family will receive guests on Thursday, February 22, from 6:00-8:00 pm at the funeral home, and again one hour prior to the service on Friday.

He will be interred at Westview Cemetery.