David Ronald Taylor

David Ronald “Ron” Taylor, a longtime resident of South Bend, Washington passed away October 9, 2024, at St. Peter’s Hospital in Olympia, Washington, at the age of 88. 

Ron was born in Olympia on February 23, 1936, to Lloyd and Della (Stockton) Taylor and spent his early years there. When he was in second grade, his family relocated to South Bend, and he would go on to graduate with the South Bend High School class of 1954. Out of high school, Ron enlisted in the US Navy for two years, spending one year stationed on Adak Island, Alaska and the next year aboard the USS Taussig in the Pacific Ocean. 

In August 1959, Ron married Ida Aust in Raymond. The newlyweds moved to Olympia, where, after a semester at Saint Martin’s College, Ron made a career decision to follow in the footsteps of his father and brothers and become a log scaler and grader. He worked briefly for the US Forest Service on Oregon’s McKenzie River and then the Washington Department of Natural Resources in Sedro-Woolley, before returning to South Bend in 1963 to work with his brothers at the Willapa Harbor Log Scaling Bureau and finishing out his career with the Grays Harbor Log Scaling Bureau, retiring in 1998. 

Community was important to Ron. He coached youth sports teams and served on the South Bend School Board. He also was active in fraternal organizations. As a young man, he joined the Jaycees, helping to launch a Willapa Harbor chapter. He’d later join the local chapters of the Freemasons and Shriners International, memberships he would maintain throughout his lifetime. 

Ron liked to keep busy. He was an accomplished do-it-yourselfer, taking on home improvements and repairs himself, occasionally calling on YouTube tutorials to lead him through challenging tasks. When he wasn’t busying himself around the house, Ron enjoyed golfing, fishing, hunting pheasants and ducks, berry picking, and clamming. 

Family was most important to Ron. Ron and Ida welcomed their first daughter, Sherrie, in 1961; a second daughter, Kim, arrived in 1965. Ron was a devoted and patient father, uncle, and grandfather, raising his family as a supportive teacher and coach. He taught them how to use the backboard, judge a flyball, pick up a spare, swing a golf club, and drive a manual transmission. He spent innumerable hours in gyms or at ballfields, watching his kids, nieces, nephews, or grandkids compete or perform. Ron also looked forward to family getaways—to the condo at The Breakers in Long Beach; to Arizona; or the annual week at Black Butte Ranch in central Oregon. 

Ron enjoyed time relaxing with family in conversation on a summer afternoon on the deck, or in front of the TV watching the Mariners, Seahawks, or Huskies. He had a quick wit, and he loved to share stories from his life. These are memories we will all cherish. Ron was such a big influence and role model for his family. He was loved so much and will be missed by all. 

Ron was preceded in death by his daughter, Kimberly Gray; and his brothers, Dick and Jack Taylor. He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Ida; daughter Sherrie (Greg) Wonhoff ; four grandchildren, Taylor (Jackie) Wonhoff, McKell (Luke) Abbott, Hunter and Karlee Gray; and two great-grandchildren, Boone and Bruer Abbott. 

To honor Ron’s wishes, there will be no funeral. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Ron’s name to your preferred youth sports organization or the South Bend School Foundation (PO Box 437, South Bend, WA, 98586).