Richard K. Taylor, 59 of Bellingham and formerly of South Boston died November 15 in the University of Massachusetts Medical Center in Worcester. He was the husband of Janet (Saia) Taylor.
Born in Boston, June 7, 1948 the son of Sarah (MacIntyre) Taylor of Quincy and the late George Taylor, Mr. Taylor was raised in Roxbury and South Boston and had lived in Bellingham since 1983.
Mr. Taylor had been a mail handler for the US Postal Service, working out of the South Station complex for 20 years before retiring due to his health.
He had previously worked as a corrections officer at MCI Walpole, where he had been a member of the SWAT team.
Mr. Taylor was a proud Army Veteran of the Viet Nam War. He was in the 101st Airborne and later in the 19th Special Forces, Camp Fogarty, Rhode Island. Following his Army service, he was member of the Massachusetts National Guard, 972 Military Police Company in Boston. While serving in the Guard, he worked on protection of Pope John Paul II on Boston Common when he came to Boston to serve Mass.
He attained the rank of Sgt. and was awarded the National Defense Service Medal, Parachute Badge, Viet Nam Campaign Medal, Viet Nam Service Medal, Combat Infantry Badge, Air Medal and Army Commendation Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster.
He was past president of the International Society of the 173rd Airborne Brigade Chapter IX, N.E. Chapter.
Mr. Taylor had been a 4th degree black belt in Kenpo Karate.
He enjoyed camping.
In addition to his wife and mother, he is survived by his son, Richard K. Taylor Jr. of Franklin and his daughter, Katherine A. Taylor of Bellingham.
He is also survived by his brothers, John of West Roxbury, Paul of Danvers, and George of Tacoma, Washington, his sisters, Elizabeth of Quincy and Sarah of Lakeland, Florida and many nieces and nephews.
His funeral will be held on Tuesday November 20 from the Ginley-Crowley Funeral Home, 3 Barber St. in Medway at 9:00 a.m. followed by a funeral Mass in St. Brendan’s Church at 10:00 a.m.
Burial will be in the Massachusetts National Cemetery in Bourne at 12:45 p.m.
Calling hours will be on Monday from 7-9 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy may be made in his memory to St. Brendan’s Church, 384 Hartford Ave. Bellingham, MA 02019.