Mr. Richard Clark Taylor

Richard "Bud" Taylor was born in Cleveland, Ohio on May 4, 1930 to Charles and Margaret Taylor and he passed away peacefully in Fresno on Tuesday, January 29, 2013, after battling Alzheimer's disease for several years.

The Taylor family moved to California during World War II and settled in Fresno, where Bud attended school and graduated from Fresno High School in 1949, where he was active in drama, track and Sea Scouts.

Bud entered the U. S. Air Force and following boot camp he married Jeanne Bukilica, his high school sweetheart, before being deployed to Korea. Following his military service he enrolled at Cal State University Fresno and graduated in 1957 with a degree in Education and a general secondary teaching credential.

He began his teaching career at Fresno High School where he taught history and government and then transferred to help open the new Hoover High School campus in 1963. After several more years in the classroom, he joined the counseling staff and eventually was the head counselor at Hoover where he was admired for many years. After similar positions at Edison, Roosevelt and Duncan High Schools he retired in 1990. His 30 plus year career with Fresno Unified School District left him with many fans from the hundreds of students, parents and colleagues whom he impacted with his love of learning, infectious laugh and enthusiasm for life.

Through the years Bud loved to play "Santa" for family, church and school groups. Funny how he had that same twinkle in his eye just like Saint Nick.

Bud was an active member of the St. George Greek Orthodox Church, serving as Assistant Principal of the Sunday School and he was a fixture at the annual Greek Food Festival and other events for many years. He was honored as both Father of the Year and Steward of the Year by the St. George Community.

He was also a member of the fraternal order of the AHEPA for over 25 years serving and chairing many committees before becoming President. In addition Bud was an enthusiastic Zoo docent and Puppeteer at the Fresno Chaffee Zoo where he loved giving tours to school groups and performing as a puppeteer at many school and church functions.

Preceding Bud in death were his parents and his first wife Jeanne, who he lovingly and faithfully cared for during her years of declining health, Bud's laugh, wit and devotion were introduced to a whole new extended family when he married Marcia Parker in 1994 and instantly became a father and grandfather to Marcia's four children and grandchildren.

Marcia and his entire extended family are grateful for the kind and loving care and support he was provided by his network of care, Oasis Program, Sommerford Place and Cottonwood Court Memory Care, UCSF Alzheimer's and Memory Center.

Bud is survived by his loving wife, Marcia and his brother Bill and his wife Gail of Fresno; his sister in law, Crickett Raulston of Utah; along with his step children, Michelle Plowman and her husband Dave, Matt, Joe and Eric Parker; grandchildren, Dominic and Gage Parker, Jacob, Joshua and Annika Plowman, and Blaise Foote; and nephews, Jeff and Steve Taylor, Dave and Jon Raulston. His late wife Jeanne's extended family also remained a significant part of his life, including Paul and Anita Chiames, Mike and Lorraine Bukilica; Sally Bukilica and the late Robert Bukilica; Warner Morgan and the late Helene Morgan plus numerous nieces and nephews, their spouses and children, including Chris Chiames, Paul Chiames, Terese Chiames Caire, Nick Bukilica, Marion Bukilica Beard, Matt Bukilica, Terri Bukilica Prieto, Jason Bukilica, Jennifer Bukilica, Gina Kazanjian and Goddaughter, Simone Potzernitz.

Visitation will be held at Whitehurst, Sullivan, Burns & Blair Funeral Home on Friday, February 1, 2013, from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m.

A Trisagion and Funeral Service will be held at St. George Greek Orthodox Church on Saturday, February 2, 2013 at 10:30 a.m. Interment to follow at Belmont Memorial Park.

Remembrances may be sent to St. George Greek Orthodox Church, St. Peter Serbian Orthodox Church, the Fresno Chaffee Zoo Education Department, St. Agnes Hospice or the Alzheimer's Foundation of Fresno. P.O. Box 34387, Fresno, Ca. 93650