On Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2017, Harold Allen Taylor Jr., 80, of Charles Town, passed away unexpectedly of a massive heart attack at Winchester Medical Center.

Born June 27, 1936, in San Jose, Calif., he was the son of the late Harold Allen Taylor and Marie Briody Taylor.

Beloved husband of Theresa Kustritz Taylor; devoted father of Ruth Taylor and her companion, Arthur Gregory, of Frederick, Harold, III and wife, Suzanne, of Frostburg, and Jonathan and wife, Rachel, of Poultney, Vt.; beloved grandfather to six grandchildren, Zane, Julia, Cyrus, Isaac, Oliver, and Jonah; beloved brother of James Taylor and wife, Anne-Marie, and Lee Taylor and wife, Claudia.

Harold A. Taylor Jr. wrote and edited Dimension Stone Advocate News, Graphite Stone Advocate News, Indium Advocate News, and Bismuth Advocate News and led a consulting group specializing in business-related topics (i.e., markets, reserves-resources) involving dimension stone, graphite, and a few other minerals. He has a B.A. from Brown University (Geology, Chemistry), did graduate work at Michigan Technological Univ. (Geology, Mining) and has a M.A. from the University of Minnesota (Economics, Mining). A leading expert, he is listed in Who's Who in America and Who's Who in Finance and Industry. He was Senior Commodity Specialist for dimension stone and graphite for the U.S. Bureau of Mines from 1980 to 1995, making on-site visits to over 70 dimension stone operations in the U.S. (in 25 states), plus 30 in Italy, many in Brazil, Spain, and elsewhere. Taylor has been President of Basics/Mines, his consulting group, since 1995. He was Chair of the Subcommittee on Nomenclature for ASTM Committee C18 on Dimension Stone 1987-2004. He was the author of the Graphite chapter in the Kirk-Othmer Chemical Encyclopedia and the Graphite report in the about-to-be-published Industrial Minerals and Rocks (SME). He updated outlooks and events on his website basicsmines.com.

Harold Taylor Jr., along with his wife and children, was an early member of NOVA, Northern Virginia Catholic Community, going to Sunday Masses and participating most Church activities including prayer groups, bible studies, charity activities and childrens religious education classes. Harry, Theresa, and children were active members of Nova from 1969 until 1990 when they moved from the area to Charles Town. It was at NOVA that Harry first started singing in the Choir.

Harry Taylor and Theresa continued to be active in their new church, St. James the Greater, participating in charitable activities, prayer and bible groups and, of course, the choir. Most recently the Capella Magna Choir of St. James the Greater Catholic Church of Charles Town. In 2008, as a member of a St. James Pilgrimage, they visited Venice, Padua, Florence, Lucca, Rome, and Assisi. They sang for the Solemn Chapter Mass at the Basilica of St. Peter in Rome and that evening gave a concert for the people of Rome at the Church of St. Ignatius Loyola. Finally the choir sang a brief selection for his Holiness Pope Benedict XVI. This along with marrying Theresa, the birth of his children and grandchildren was one of the highlights of his life.

Harry was also an avid amateur genealogist collaborating with his brothers, Jim and Lee and their uncle, Earle Taylor; cousins Annabel and Jill Lane; sons, Jonathan & Harold and others. He was also a diligent archivist of the family photos and history.

Since his retirement he has been extremely active in KAIROS Prison ministries, participating in many retreats for prisoners at CCI in Cumberland, and many other prisons as well. Perhaps more than anything Harry would probably like to be remembered as a true brother in Christ (and he was!) but he was at his best as a devoted husband and father. He was married to Theresa for 53 years and was her devoted companion. Together they traveled the world. As a father, Harry provided well for his children both financially and with sage advice and wisdom. He was always there in event of emergency, and loved all his children and grandchildren equally and unconditionally.

Visitation will be held from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 16, 2017, at Eackles-Spencer & Norton Funeral Home, 256 Halltown Road, Harpers Ferry, with a vigil at 7:30 p.m.

A Mass of Christian burial will be held at 10 a.m. at St. James Catholic Church, 49 Crosswinds Drive, Charles Town, on Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2017.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in Harold's name to the church listed above in care of KAIROS Prison Ministry. Condolences may be expressed at:

http://www.eackles-spencerfuneralhome.com/fh/obituaries/obituary.cfm?o_id=4067430&fh_id=13130