Lynn Gaylord

January 15, 1938 – March 19, 2012

Lynn Daryl Gaylord of LaPorte, Indiana, passed away from pancreatic cancer on Monday, March 19, 2012, at his son’s home in Prattville, Alabama.  He was 74.  

Lynn Gaylord was born in Lafayette, Indiana, the son of Colonel George C. Gaylord, USAR, and Ella Frances (Henderson) Gaylord.  He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Joan (Jacobs) Gaylord, whom he married in 1961 at Trinity United Methodist Church in Lafayette, Indiana.

He grew up in West Lafayette, Indiana, and graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Physical Education from Purdue University in 1962.  He was a life member of Sigma Pi fraternity and Purdue Alumni Association.

Mr. Gaylord was a decorated U.S. Army Infantry veteran and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in 1962 from the Purdue University ROTC program.  He served in various command, staff, instructor and advisor positions including a tour to Korea (1963-1964) and twice to Vietnam (1967-1968; 1970-1971).  After serving on active duty until 1972, he transferred to the U.S. Army Reserves until his retirement in 1983 as a Lieutenant Colonel.  His military decorations include the Combat Infantry Badge, a Bronze Star, two Air Medals, Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with Gold Star, Gallantry Cross with Bronze Star, National Defense Service Medal, and the Vietnam Service Medal with 5 Oak Leaf Clusters. 

After serving on active duty in the Army, Mr. Gaylord had a successful career in the chemical and plastics industries.  He held various sales executive positions and traveled extensively throughout the U.S. while based in Carrollton, Texas; Conyers, Georgia; and later LaPorte, Indiana.  During his career in the chemical and plastics industries he was very active in the Society of Plastics Engineers (SPE) in which he held leadership positions at the regional, national, and international level.  In 1983 he was awarded the SPE National Outstanding Achievement Award and served on the National Conference Planning Committee from 1988-1989.

Outside of his professional activities, Lynn Gaylord was a devoted husband and father who loved spending time with his sons, supporting their high school activities, and as an adult leader in the Boy Scouts of America.   He was a Life Member of the National Rifle Association and held local leadership positions in the Lions Club International, the American Legion, and the United Methodist Men’s Club.

In retirement, Mr. Gaylord enjoyed substitute teaching in Westville, Indiana.  He also enjoyed writing poetry and was a frequent guest poet at the summer “Arts in the Park” concert series in LaPorte, Indiana.  Last year he won the 5^th Annual Celia and Charles Shapiro Poetry competition and was named LaPorte County Poet Laureate for 2011-2012.

In addition to his wife, Mr. Gaylord leaves behind an older brother, George Robert Gaylord and sister in-law Sondra (Tompkins) Gaylord of Port Charlotte, Florida; a son and daughter in-law, Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Gaylord, USAF (Ret.) and Dawn (Bradford) Gaylord of Prattville, Alabama; son and daughter in-law, George Gaylord and Julia (Vaughn) Gaylord of Newburgh, Indiana; one granddaughter, Jessica Gaylord of Atlanta, Georgia; five grandsons, Michael, Matthew, and Mitchell Gaylord of Prattville, Alabama, and William and John (Jack) Gaylord of Newburgh, Indiana. 

He was preceded in death by his parents and a granddaughter, Elizabeth Dawn Gaylord.

No visitation is planned.  Mr. Gaylord chose to be a donor for medical research, and his cremated remains will be interred later at a graveside ceremony with military honors at the Alabama National Cemetery in Montevallo, Alabama.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society (P.O. Box 22718, Oklahoma City, OK 73123) or Baptist Hospice (301 Interstate Park, Montgomery, AL, 36109).

THE OLD TREE

I saw a tree the other day –

Though I’ve seen many trees before –

But this one suddenly caught my eye,

Impressing me with its stark grandeur.

Taller than most nearby it,

All by itself it stood,

No longer vibrant and full of life,

A skeleton of old gray wood.

It was once a hardy specimen,

A commanding influence where it spread,

Now other lives evolve after it

Its life cycle complete and dead.

No longer green as others.

No leaves to make a sound.

It just stands there like a sentinel,

Anchored in the cold, cold ground.

A few birds still nest in its hollows

And I’m sure insects are in its bark;

Still the remaining limbs reach up skyward,

Spreading in a solemn arc.

Too soon I’ll be like that hollow trunk,

Fixed in the cold, cold ground;

But if my life is to be rewarded,

Like those limbs, I’ll be heaven bound.

Copyright 2005 Lynn Daryl Gaylord

PERFECT ATTENDANCE

Our joints move more slowly.

Our hair has added more gray.

Sharp eyesight often escapes us.

Still we gather here today.

Fond memories we recall clearly –

Though five decades now have passed.

We are classmates forever and ever.

Our friendships remain steadfast.

Our numbers continue to dwindle

Now each time we meet.

Some just can’t be here today.

Others nevermore can we greet.

Tonight we honor our missing

And toast them with our love.

Someday we’ll have perfect attendance

When our class meets up above.

Lynn D. Gaylord

Copyright June 2005

LaPorte County Poet Laureate 2011-12

This poem was written for the West Lafayette Class of 1955 50^th Reunion

Lynn Gaylord  (January 15, 1938 – March 19, 2012)

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