Challen Edward Taylor, 91, a resident of the Neighborhood of Tellico Village, Knoxville, TN, passed away peacefully the morning of Tuesday, October 4, 2011. He was a member of the Cedar Springs Presbyterian Church for thirty years and had served as an elder in previous Presbyterian churches throughout his lifetime. Challen was also a member of the Masonic Lodge, as a 32nd degree Mason.
He was born January 17, 1920, the third son of the late Charles W. and Daisy White Taylor, on a modest farm in the northern part of West Virginia. He was raised on this farm through the depression years where he developed the strong work ethic and sense for community service that would mark his life.
At the age of seventeen, he single-handedly organized, petitioned, and won the effort to install telephone service to his rural community for the first time.
Graduating from West Virginia University with a degree in chemistry during World War II, he was enlisted in a high-level project to develop synthetic rubber, a material desperately needed for the war effort. The process Challen and his colleagues developed is still being used throughout the world in tires, as well as hundreds of other rubber-based products.
He married the love of his life, Pauline Michael, on June 29, 1946. They celebrated 64 years of marriage together, during which they raised two children, Linda Miller (Warren) and Larry Taylor (Mary) and enjoyed the births of four grandchildren, Eric Miller (Stacy), Kim Worth (George), Doug Miller and Brittany Story (Charlie) and one great-grandchild, Bryson Miller.
Funeral services will be held at 10:00 AM Friday in the Chapel at the Cedar Springs Presbyterian Church, 9132 Kingston Pike with the Rev. Clay Harrington officiating.
A gradeside service will be held at 1:00 PM Sunday at the Oak Forest Cemetery near Hundred, WV with the Rev. Rose Saunders officiating. Interment will follow in the Oak Forest Cemetery.
The Tennant Funeral Home in Hundred, WV is in charge of local arrangements.