Walter Renold Taplin, Jr.
September 28, 1919 - September 27, 2013
Mr. Walter Renold Taplin, Jr., age 93, of New Castle, DE, passed away on Friday, September 27, 2013.
A native Delawarean, Mr. Taplin was born in Wilmington on September 28, 1919, son of the late Walter R. Taplin, Sr. and Irene M. Brittingham Taplin. He was a proud member of the US Marine Corps, serving bravely during World War II with the 3rd Marine Division on such storied Pacific Theater battlegrounds as Guam and Iwo Jima. In civilian life, he made his career as a professional technologist with the DuPont Company, retiring from the Chambers Works site in 1982 after 42 ½ years of service. While with DuPont, he was awarded a patent that is still in use today.
In his leisure hours, Mr. Taplin greatly enjoyed frequent trips to Ireland with his wife, Patricia, and son, Dennis. He was a masterful gardener and abundantly talented in the kitchen, as well; his happiest times were those spent cooking wonderful meals for his large, close-knit family.
Beloved by all for his generous, loving, and gracious nature, Mr. Taplin will be long remembered as the perfect example of what a gentleman should be. He lived his life by valuing integrity above all else and remaining committed to doing the honorable thing in all situations at all times. Family and friends alike benefitted from his wise counsel and his gentle encouragement that they should always strive for a principled and ethical solution to every problem. His devotion to right living extended even to the most humble creatures of the natural world. From the lowliest insects to his own beloved pets, he was devoted to animals and cared for them all with love.
He was preceded in death by his devoted wife of 69 years, Patricia Marr Taplin, daughter, Geralyn Julia Taplin White, and son, Dennis Gerard Taplin. He is survived by his daughter, Patricia T. Hinchliffe of Annapolis, MD; his son, Walter R. Taplin and wife Cecelia of Hockessin; grandchildren, Jeremy, Scott, Jillian, Stephen, Brendan, and Christine; and great grandchildren, Michael, Fiana, and Elizabeth.
A funeral service will be held at 2:30 pm on Tuesday, October 1st, at the Spicer-Mullikin Funeral Home, 1000 N. DuPont Parkway, New Castle, where visitation will begin at 2 pm. Interment will follow in Gracelawn Memorial Park, 2220 N. DuPont Parkway, New Castle.
In lieu of flowers, contributions in memory of Mr. Taplin may be made to the American Cancer Society, 92 Read’s Way, Ste. 205, New Castle, DE 19720.
Spicer-Mullikin Funeral Homes
Please accept our deepest condolences, from our family to yours.
Dr. Sydney John Bell
Condolences to all the family members. From the details of his obituary, i too would be proud to have him as a father.
I apologise for this intrusion but I came across Mr Taplin’s obituary on the internet and was attracted by his name, Walter and the fact he visited Ireland often. My grandmother, Hanna Taplin, born in Dublin, Ireland, had a brother named Walter and I know he was in USA with his two other brothers about 1907. His wherabouts seem to have been lost and also that of his brother Samuel Taplin who was last heard of in San Francisco. The other brother had to return to Dublin because of illness and died at the age of 22..
I would be most grateful if any member of the family could contact me with any details of Mr Walter Reynold Taplin’s connections with Ireland or the USA.
I once again I apologise for this intrusion at a time of grief.
Yours sincerely,
Dr. Sydney J Bell