Owen Taylor

Mr. Owen Taylor, age 98, passed away on November 17, 2025, at Highgate Assisted Living in Billings, MT.

Owen was born in 1927, the son of Walter and Edna (nee Richardson) Taylor, in Trenton, NJ. Owen joined the navy in 1945, and served on the aircraft carrier USS Kearsarge CV-33 in World War II. After the war, he attended the College of William and Mary, graduating with a degree in physics in 1950. He returned to the navy that year, serving on the destroyer USS Rowan DD-782 until 1951. He attended Purdue University in 1952-1955, graduating with a Master's degree in engineering. At Purdue, he met his future wife Rita, marrying her a week after graduation. They settled in New Jersey where Owen began his career as an aerospace engineer at Bendix. During his 28 years at Bendix, Owen worked on a number of pioneering aerospace programs including the first Skylab and the Hubble telescope. They raised two children and lived in multiple states before retiring to Denver and later to Florida. After his wife's passing in 2008, Owen moved one more time to Billings, MT in 2019, to be close to his daughter and son-in-law. Owen became a member of St. Nicholas Orthodox Church in Billings in 2021, faithfully attending services each Sunday.

Owen is preceded in death by his wife Rita (nee Ricke) Taylor (2008) and his sister Jean (nee Taylor) Delahanty (2023). Owen is survived by his children Lynne Taylor and her husband Robert Sistko, Billings MT, and Steve Taylor of Fort Collins, CO; his grand daughters Anna Thompson, Nichole Begerow, Katherine Heimer, Tara Bump; his nieces Marge Schluter, Michelle Delahanty, and Patricia Davis; and devoted friend and caregiver Missy Gregory.

Funeral services are as follows:
5:30 pm Wednesday November 19, evening prayer service and viewing at St Nicholas Orthodox Church, 401 Lewis Ave., Billings, Fr. Moses Hibbard presiding.
9:00 am Thursday November 20, morning service followed by funeral service at St. Nicholas Orthodox Church
1:00 pm Thursday November 20, burial at the Yellowstone National Cemetery, 55 Buffalo Trail, Laurel.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to St. Nicholas Orthodox Church, Billings, MT.

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