EURE – Joseph Paul Taylor, 81, of 6 Depot Road, Eure, passed away on Thursday, April 23, 2015 in his home.

Paul was born on October 16, 1933 in Gates County and was the only child of the late Paul Venitis and Mary Alice Stallings Taylor.

Employed with Union Camp Corporation, now International Paper in Franklin, VA, he retired from the Global Control department in 1998 after working with the company for 42 years, and since its inception in 1987 was a devoted part-time associate of Miller Funeral Home.

A faithful member of Eure Baptist Church and its Adult Sunday School Class, he had served on both the Cemetery and Building and Grounds committees.

Active in his community, he was a member of the Hall Ruritan Club; was a past president and had served on the board of directors for the Roanoke-Chowan Shrine Club where he was a member for 35 years; had been a member of the Gatesville Masonic Lodge #126 for over 50 years; had been a member of the former Gatesville Chapter of The Order of the Eastern Star; was a charter member of the Eure Volunteer Fire Department where he had served on its board of directors; and had represented Hall Township as a member of the Gates County Democratic Committee.

Since 1993 he was the Vice-President of Shear Image COP, Inc., and in 2002 he graduated from Roanoke-Chowan Community College at the age of 69.  A proud veteran, he had served in the United States Army.

Surviving are his wife of 55 years, Olethia Wall Taylor; two daughters, Paula Taylor Flythe and husband Sam of Tarboro, and Cindy Leigh Taylor of Greenville; two grandchildren, Kaitlyn Taylor Flythe, a junior at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and Samuel Paul Flythe, a senior at Tarboro High School; and his faithful canine companion, “Princess”.  Among other survivors are first cousins, Leslie Stallings of Suffolk, VA and Eugenia Shepherd of Norfolk, VA; and many close family members and supportive friends who have loved and cared for both he and his family during his illness.

A Celebration of His Life will be held Sunday, April 26 at 4:00 p.m. in Eure Baptist Church and will be officiated by the Rev. Dr. Wayne Proctor and the Rev. Wayne Gardner.  A private burial will follow in the church cemetery.

Friends may join the family on Saturday from 6 to 8 p.m. at Miller Funeral Home in Gatesville, and other times at the residence.

Flowers are welcomed, or contributions in his memory may be made to The New Building Fund of Eure Baptist Church, P.O. Box 70, Eure, NC 27935.

The family wishes to express their deepest appreciation to Vidant Home Care & Hospice for the wonderful and attentive care given to their husband, father, and grandfather during these last weeks of his life.

Online condolences may be made by visiting www.millerfhc.com.