Dennis Taylor

Dennis J. Taylor, 82, of Independence, Mo died November 17, 2008 due to complications from Alzheimer’s. A celebration of his life will be held at the First Presbyterian Church of Independence, Pleasant and Lexington at 1:00 PM, on Thursday, November 20th. Friends may visit after the service at the Church. The family requests no flowers and suggests contributions to the Jackson County Free Health Clinic of Independence. Dennis was born in Cuba, Mo, and at the age of three moved to Morganville, KS. After graduating from high school in 1943 he enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps and became a 2nd Lieutenant and Flight Engineer on the B-29. He moved to Kansas City in 1947 and was hired by TWA into their Flight Planning Dept. In 1953, he became a Flight Engineer on Lockheed Constellations and through his 39-year career with TWA advanced to Co-pilot and then Captain flying the Boeing 707, 727, 767, and 747. He was one of the first TWA pilots trained on the 767 and pioneered commercial airline twin-engine transatlantic flights. In 1979, he received the Charles C. Tillinghast Award, the highest honor TWA bestows for exemplary service. He also served on the TWA Credit Union Board of Directors, now known as Community America Credit Union, for 13 years and served as its President in 1978. Dennis met his wife, Jane Springer, at TWA in 1954. They were married in 1955 and moved to Independence in 1962. Dennis and Jane were co-owners with the late Bob and Harriett Gall of Strike ‘n Spare Bowl in Independence which they built in 1957. He was a member of SPEBSQSA (a barbershop quartet organization) for 60 years, serving as President of the Kansas City Barbershop Chapter in 1963. He was the original tenor in the Kansas City comedy quartet, The Merry Mugs. Dennis is survived by his wife, Jane and three sons and their wives; Dennis Taylor and Bridget McCandless of Independence, MO, Mitchell and Betsy Taylor of Houston, TX, and Tim and Yvette Taylor of Odessa, MO. He is also survived by 6 grandchildren, Alexis, Maggie, Nate, Sam, Hannah, and Maddie Taylor. He is also survived by a sister, Shirley Turner, of Independence, MO. Dennis was preceded in death by his mother and father, Helen and Joe Taylor, and eight brothers and sisters.

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