By Staff
David Thomas Tayloe, Sr., affectionately known in “Little Washington” and Beaufort County as “Dr. Dave,” was born in Washington on October 12, 1925. His parents were the late Dr. David Thomas Tayloe and Eleanor Berry Tayloe, who died before he finished high school. A younger brother, Floyd Berry Tayloe, predeceased him. Dave and Floyd were raised by his mother's sisters, Pauline Berry McLean and Elizabeth Berry Hoffler, both deceased. His uncle, the late John Cotten Tayloe, MD served as his mentor after the deaths of his parents.
After graduating from Washington High School, he was drafted by the US Navy. However, he was allowed to complete pre-med studies at UNC Chapel Hill, medical school at the University of Pennsylvania, and a rotating internship at the Medical College of Virginia before entering military service at Portsmouth Naval Hospital in 1950. After two years of military service, he began his pediatrics residency at Duke, interrupted in part by another year of military service at Camp Lejeune. He began his pediatric practice in Washington in 1955 in an office on Washington Street near the Tayloe Hospital. He took care of children from all over eastern North Carolina. Geneva Morgan, RN, CPNP, helped him open that practice, establish Washington Pediatrics, and worked with him until his retirement in 1994. Frank Stallings, MD and Russel Cook, MD were his partners at Washington Pediatrics.
In 1946, he married the late Erin Tuttle Woodall, daughter of the late William Ryal Woodall and Sally Mae Tuttle Woodall. There are five surviving children and their spouses: David Thomas Tayloe, Jr., MD and Denise Gollobin Tayloe of Goldsboro; Sally Tayloe Duff and William Powell Duff, III of Raleigh; Elizabeth Tayloe Powell and Allen Whitaker Powell of Raleigh; Ryal Woodall Tayloe and Kimbrough Thompson Tayloe of Wilmington; Marcus Herndon Tayloe and Kim Woolbright Tayloe of Matthews. Grandchildren include David Thomas Tayloe, III, MD, Katherine Tayloe MacDonald, MD, Rebecca Tayloe Seegars, Pharm.D., Eleanor Berry Kipp, PMHNP, Erin Woodall Duff, Pharm.D., William Powell Duff, IV, Claire Tayloe Duff, Emma Whitaker Powell, Ryal Woodall Tayloe, Jr., Nathan Thompson Tayloe, Mary Rosser Kimbrough Tayloe, Marcus Herndon Tayloe, Jr., Julia Woolbright Tayloe, and Lane Woodall Tayloe. Great grandchildren are Noah Tayloe MacDonald, Zoe Rebecca MacDonald, Ian Camden MacDonald, Benjamin Weston Seegars, Jr., Gray Tayloe Seegars, and David Thomas Tayloe, IV. He is also survived by his two sisters-in-law, Dorothy Teal Tayloe Ashby of Birmingham, AL and Ann Woodall (Peetie) Davant of Charlotte.
He is also survived by his faithful companion and special friend, Sadie Fowle. He and Sadie experienced many fun dinners, interesting trips, and family gatherings. The family is grateful that Sadie has become a part of our clan.
“Big Dave” as he was known to his family, was totally committed to his family, hosting innumerable extended family gatherings at his Washington home, the Hawkins Landing river cottage, and at Emerald Isle for the traditional family beach week.
Dr. Dave created a real medical home for the children of a large area of eastern North Carolina. His involvement with the local schools, hospital, department of social services, health department, and mental health agency assured that his patients would receive the very best pediatric care. He set the standard for pediatric medical care for the state and each year the NC Pediatric Society/NC Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) gives an award to its outstanding community pediatrician that is called the David T. Tayloe Senior Award for Community Pediatrics. In 1985, he received the Distinguished Service Award of the Medical Alumni Association of the UNC School of Medicine.
Dr. Dave was Board Certified, and Recertified by the American Board of Pediatrics. He was a Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). He was very involved with organized pediatrics, serving as President of the NC Pediatric Society/NC Chapter of the AAP on two occasions, Alternate District IV (NC,SC,VA,TN,KY,GA,FL,PR) Chairperson for the AAP, and also served on the National Nominating Committee for the AAP.
His hobbies included fishing all over eastern NC, playing tennis, and following the UNC Tar Heels sports teams. He was an avid fitness enthusiast, always vowing to “take his daily exercise” as if it were a prescription from his doctor.
He was a lifelong member of his beloved Saint Peter's Episcopal Church, serving numerous times on the Vestry and attending services there as long as his health would permit.
During his latter years, he was fortunate to have dedicated helpers in his home and at Ridgewood Manor. The family extends specials thanks to Marietta Smith, Ollie Moore, and Tony Bryant along with the staff at Ridgewood Manor.
The family also expresses their appreciation to the congregation of Saint Peter's Episcopal Church and Rev. Kevin Johnson for their support during his sickness.
A memorial service will be held 2 p.m. Monday June 28, 2010 at Saint Peter's Episcopal Church in Washington officiated by Rt. Rev. Clifton Daniel, III.
Henry Stephenson, MD, Neal Partrick, MD, Charles Sawyer, MD, Jim Thorpe, MD, John Cotten Tayloe, MD, Josh Tayloe, MD, David Williams, MD, David Tayloe “Pappy Fowle”, John Morgan, Bill Oden, CPA and Fred Scales will serve as pallbearers.
Eddie Buck Buckman, George Gardner, Harvey Dixon and Zeno Edwards, DDS will serve as honorary pallbearers.
The family will receive friends 5-7 p.m. on Sunday at his home located at 719 Short Drive, Washington.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be given to Saint Peter's Episcopal Church Building Fund, (101 N. Bonner Street, Washington, NC 27889) and/or the NC Pediatric Society Foundation (NC Pediatric Society; 1100 Wake Forest Road; Suite 150, Raleigh, NC 27604).
You may address your condolences to the family by visiting www.paulfuneralhome.com
Paul Funeral Home of Washington is honored to be serving the Tayloe Family.
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