Gladys Saum Tayloe

Salem, Va. Gladys C. Tayloe, 103, of Salem, passed away on Sunday, February 2, 2020, at her residence. She was born in Chambersburg, Pa. on September 21, 1916, child of the late Earl and Carrie Saum. Gladys attended school at James Buchanan School until she was in the high sixth grade, and her parents moved to Roanoke, and then attended Belmont school for half a year. She moved on to Jackson Junior High School and graduated from Jefferson High School in 1934. After graduation. Ms. Tayloe became deathly ill with Scarlet Fever and diphtheria and was unable to attend college. Following her recovery, she became employed with S.H. Kress Company in Roanoke, where she met her future husband, Eugene G. Gene Tayloe. He was currently employed with N&W Railroad. After a brief courtship, they eloped to Martinsville and were married on December 30, 1938. World War II would prompt Gene to enlist in the U.S. Army, and he was deployed to Korea at the break of the Korean war serving in the transportation corps. During his deployment, Gladys became employed with Thaden Engineering Company before her employment with G.E., where she would retire in 1979, after 23 years of faithful service. Gladys was a long-time volunteer at the Salem VA Medical Center, serving over 27,000 hours of service dating back to 1963. She served in numerous roles, serving in the cancer center, the laboratory for Phlebotomists, as a clerical pathology secretary, as well as many, many parties, dinners, Chaplains services and Bingo games, held for the patients. Gene was among the patients she served until his death, but she remained to help others. She had been the VAVS (Veteran Affairs, Veteran Service) representative at the hospital for many years, as well as serving as their treasurer. Gladys was a member of many veterans organizations, including DAVA 3, serving as Commander twice and as Adjunct, later transferring to Chapter 19, where she served as Hospital Chairperson for many years. She held life membership, both in Virginia and the Blue Hen State of New Jersey. She served in the Cast-Off Cardinals (past state commanders), as secretary-treasurer until 2005; was the State Commander for Virginia in 1961 and 1963 and served as a Page to the National Commander during the years of 1976 and 1997. She was awarded the George Seal Award as the most outstanding volunteer in the DAVA in 1988, including an all-expense-paid trip to the National Convention in Reno, Nevada. Gladys was a member of Saint Marks Lutheran Church and assisted with chapel services at the Salem VA Medical Center on Sundays. She was also a member of the Roanoke Eastern Star. In addition to her parents and husband, Gladys was preceded in death by her son, James Wayne Tayloe. Family remaining to cherish her memory includes her sons, Gene Tony Tayloe, of Charlotte, N.C., and Lanny Fritz Tayloe (Ann), of Cleveland, Tenn.; grandchildren, Chris Tayloe Heffington, of Cleveland, Tenn., Susan McLaughlin (Harold), of Charlotte, N.C., Shari Lynn Tayloe, of Maryville, Tenn., Ashley T. Switzer (Scott), of Salem, Va., and Logan Tayloe, of Salem, Va.; great-grandchildren, Whitney Sewell (Aaron), of Cleveland, Tenn., Josh Heffington (Kelly), of Chattanooga, Tenn., Ashlyn Young, and Morgan Young, both of Dunlap, Tenn., and Jennifer McLaughlin, of Charlotte, N.C.; five great-great-grandchildren; and her daughter-in-law, Joyce Dooley Tayloe, of Salem. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to either the Veterans Hospital Chapel Service or to the V.A. Volunteer Service at the Salem V.A. Medical Center. A service to honor Gladyss life will be conducted on Saturday, February 8, 2020, at 10 a.m., in the Abbey at Sherwood Memorial Park, with Chaplain Ronald Michaux, of the Salem V.A. Medical Center, officiating. Online condolences may be expressed by visiting www.johnmoakey.com. Service Details. Service When Saturday, February 8th, 2020 10:00am Location Sherwood Memorial Park Abbey Address 1250 East Main St. Salem, VA 24153 Interment When Saturday, February 8th, 2020 10:00am Location Sherwood Memorial Park Address 1250 East Main Street Salem, Virginia 24153