Ronald D. Taylor

Ronald D. Taylor, 87, of Akron, Ohio passed away peacefully on September 13, 2026. He was deeply loved by his family and friends. Through his life and incredible artwork, he succeeded in leaving the world more beautiful, far more interesting, and infinitely more fun.

Ron was born on May 15, 1939, to Renwick and Beverly Taylor of Toledo, Ohio. “Skip” (as he was known in Toledo), shared many fond memories of his parents, his brother Gary, his aunt and uncle, Martha and Dick Tubbs, and his beloved grandfather, Dr. Ernest Taylor. A 1957 graduate of DeVilbiss High School, Ron earned a scholarship to Ohio State University. As an Ohio State Buckeye, he received a B.F.A. in Commercial Art, and an M.A. in Painting (1963). At O.S.U. Ron also met his future wife - The Dream Girl of the Phi Delta Thetas - Shirley Scheuerman of Lima, Ohio. Throughout 64 years of marriage, they celebrated a family that included three children, their spouses, and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Ron’s love of visual art began as a child with visits to the Toledo Museum of Art with his Aunt Martha. Later he credited two professors at O.S.U., Bob King and Hoyt Sherman, for cultivating his talent as a young painter. Upon graduating, Dr. Emily Davis of the University of Akron hired Ron to teach drawing and painting as part of a growing art program. As a faculty professor from 1964 to 1993, he was an insightful teacher and encouraging mentor, and often worked directly alongside his students. He took great pride in helping transform the art department from a modest city college curriculum into a large state university fine arts program. During his early University years, he was also a member of the Ohio Air National Guard.

He found his greatest joy in painting and drawing. As his work evolved from abstract expressionism to vibrant, painterly landscapes, he developed unique styles to express his vision of the natural world. Although he generated mixed-media collages, still lifes, and figure drawings, it was the landscape that he returned to time and again. Robert Doty once said of his work, “He has the unique ability of seeing objects of our own every-day world and transmuting them into the highest realm of art.” His work has appeared in galleries, museums, juried exhibitions, and in private and corporate collections. Solo exhibitions included the Akron Art Museum, the Butler Institute of American Art, the Harris Stanton Gallery, the McCune Arts Center, the Canton Museum of Art, The Ohio State University, and Mount Union College. Group exhibitions included The Cleveland Museum of Art (May Shows), The Toledo Museum of Art, the Corcoran Gallery of Art, the Cox Fine Arts Center, and The Art in the Embassies program (U.S. Department of State).

Ron’s paintings were inspired by his home in the woods called The Pinery, by daytrips through Ohio’s hills, and by trips to Maine, New York, South Carolina, and Alaska. His love for the beauty of Northern Michigan and the cottage on Devereaux Lake were unparalleled. Summers in Michigan were a lifetime delight and here he (and Shirley) enjoyed hiking, fly fishing, photography, beach fires with friends and family, and teaching each grandchild how to hook a bass. He relished humorous, off-the-cuff quips, creative nicknames, good story-telling, Michigan Hawaiian luaus, and he never passed up a chance to wear a funny hat, silly mask, or wig.

He leaves behind his beloved wife, Shirley (Scheuerman) Taylor; children, Lisa Kindleburg (Ken), Scott Taylor (Ling), and Tracy Taylor (Doug Hoerr); grandchildren, Sophie Smith (Xavier), Alex Taylor, Graham Hicks, Neil Taylor (Dianne), Malcolm Hoerr, Amelia Hoerr; three step-grandchildren; multiple great-grandchildren; sisters-in-law, Martha (Taylor) Muszynki, and JoAnn Dudley; many nephews and nieces including Gary’s son, Jon Taylor; and many close friends. Ron was predeceased by his parents Renwick Taylor and Beverly Taylor Kime, his brother, Gary Taylor, and good friends Earl Ertman and Dave McMurray.

A Celebration of Life service will be on Saturday, October 17th at Bath Church UCC, 3980 W. Bath Road, Akron, Ohio 44333. Calling hours will be from 10:00 to 11:00 before the service. There will be a reception following the Celebration with a private interment at a later date.

The Taylor family would like to thank the staff of the Vitalia Senior Residence in Stow (Memory Care Unit) for their incredible care, Traditions Health / The Care Team for hospice care, and the faculty of the Myers School of Art at The University of Akron for their support.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Conservancy for Cuyahoga Valley National Park. Online - www.forcvnp.org/donate or mail to: Conservancy for CVNP, 1403 W Hines Hill Rd. Peninsula, OH 44264.

Service in care of the Billow Funeral Homes and Crematory, Fairlawn Chapel, 85 N. Miller Rd. Fairlawn, OH 44333.