Theodore Winfield “Ted” Taylor, age 98 years, of Raritan Township, NJ, died peacefully at home on Friday, November 17, 2023, surrounded by his sons and caregivers and under the caring watch of Hunterdon Hospice.

Ted was born on February 18, 1925 in Plainfield NJ to parents Lee F. Taylor and Lorraine Dunn Taylor. Ted had one brother, Lee, who fought in WWII and lost his life at the Battle of the Bulge in April 1945.

In order to serve his country, Ted sacrificed finishing his education in order to enroll in the United States Navy during his Sophomore year of High School. Ted would then serve on several different merchant ships until the war’s conclusion in 1945.

Upon his return home from the war, Ted earned his GED while working on the NJ turnpike surveying the future highway. During this Era of Ted’s life, he would meet the love of his life, Lois A. Mark. They married in August 1953.

He was steadfast in his career. He worked for Harry L. Paff surveying in Scotch Plains NJ for forty-six years where he studied diligently to receive his surveyors license.  In retirement, he earned his CDL driver’s license in order to operate a school bus for the Laidlaw/First Student bus company. His passion for work, drove him to operate that school bus for over twenty years.  He officially retired at the age of 88.

Ted leaves behind three loving families that adored and respected him very much. His oldest best-looking son, Lee and his wife, Patricia. His middle, and trouble maker son, Mark, and finally his third, Steven, the baby of the family with wife, Dawn. He leaves behind many grandchildren that loved him very much including Melanie, Andrew, Tracy and her husband, Miguel, Pammy, Morgan, and Austin; and his great grandchildren, Marco and Nico. Other very important people Ted leaves behind include friend and family member Margi Taylor and faithful caregivers to the end, Bernadette Mulenga and Mavis Freidermann.

Ted will lie in repose on Sunday, November 26, 2023, from 1:00-3:00 p.m. in the Chapel of Wright & Ford Family Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 38 State Highway 31, Flemington, NJ.

Life celebration services officiated by Rev. Brook Smith will follow the gathering at 3:00 p.m. at the funeral home and to which all are welcome.

Graveside committal words and military honors will take place on Monday, November 27, 2023, at Somerset Hills Memorial Park Mausoleum, 95 Mt. Airy Road, Basking Ridge, NJ. Everyone is kindly asked to meet directly at the mausoleum on Monday morning beginning at 10:45 a.m. and to follow the signs once you arrive at the cemetery.

For those who are unable to celebrate Ted’s life in person with the family, the services on Sunday will be live-streamed beginning at 2:45 p.m., and the committal on Monday at 10:45 a.m, all using the same link.  

You are encouraged to visit Ted’s permanent life celebration site at www.wrightfamily.com to light a candle of hope, leave messages of condolence, share words of comfort and recollection, and post photographs of his life.

Memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, via mail to 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105, or online by clicking HERE.

________________________

Wright & Ford, your local, family owned & operated “Life Celebration Home”

To send flowers to the family or place a tree in memory of Theodore Winfield “Ted” Taylor, please visit our Tribute Store.