Gardner Seth Taylor, 74, of Wawa, Pa., shuffled off his mortal coil on March 5, 2022, after a brief battle with a sudden and aggressive infection. Seth was born in Wakefield, Mass. to Stephen G. Gardner and Consuelo A. Gardner.
When he was a child, the family moved to Wawa, PA, where he would live for the rest of his life, excepting his years at college and in the army. He attended Rutgers University as a member of ROTC and upon graduating, began his service at Fort Worth, in Texas. As the war in Vietnam wound down, Seth returned to Pennsylvania where he earned his master’s degree at the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania. He worked in banking in Philadelphia and West Chester for many years, but his true passion was and had always been military history.
An active member of the National Guard, Seth never stopped pursuing his passion for the history of the two World Wars in particular, and his children remember growing up with their dog named Halftrack, their car with a specialized license plate identifying it as a WWII tank, and his vast collection of books, posters, rifles, and artifacts from both wars. A true artist, Seth also created military models and dioramas that won prizes in shows all over the region.
For the second phase of his career, Seth became a teacher/professor and was finally able to devote his time and energy to his great passion, teaching history and business courses at Delaware County Community College. In addition to remaining active in the National Guard for as long as he was able, Seth became involved in The Great War Association, which staged military re-enactments of WWI battles. Seth played the role of a French "poilu," or foot soldier, in the 18ème Régiment d'Infanterie de Ligne. Some of his happiest weekends were spent re-enacting WW1 battles with his fellow poilus. He was fortunate enough to make several pilgrimages to France with friends to visit the battlefields of WWI, and was planning to return for another visit in March 2022. Seth was a collector, a teacher, an historian, and an artist.
He frequented flea markets all over the region and, for many years, ran an antique's booth in Chadds Ford, though he rarely sold as much as he acquired. His reverence and passion for the past were infectious and impressive, and his store of knowledge and subtlety of understanding of centuries of history was second to none.
He loved working with his hands and ran a framing shop out of his home for many years, doing professional quality work for friends, family, and neighbors. He was a kind, thoughtful, and generous neighbor and friend, and spent many years helping drive and run errands for those who could no longer do it themselves. And not least, he was devoted to his pets; he and a great many strays mutually adopted one another over the years.
Seth was modest and reliable, humble and retiring, witty and intellectual, quirky and unique. It is of great comfort to those who loved him that he was able to spend his final decades doing exactly what he loved, despite the slings and arrows that fortune threw at him time and again.
Seth was pre-deceased by his first wife and mother of his four children, Tracy Perkins Gardner. He is survived by his children, Chauncy Gardner, Dr. Zechariah Gardner, Lion Gardner, and Parham Weaver, as well as nine grandchildren, Elizabeth Pogue, Colin Pogue, Cal Gardner, Symmes Gardner, Henry Gardner, Greta Gardner, Wyatt Weaver, Caroline Weaver, and Carson Weaver. He is survived by his two brothers and two sisters, Susie Reitlinger, Pierce Gardner, Hilary Gardner-Keaton, and Symmes Gardner, and their families. He leaves behind two former spouses and good friends, Nancy Gardner and Valerie Parry, and three stepchildren, Angus Campbell, Shane Campbell, and Emilee Ritchie. And, in addition to many great friends, he leaves behind his beloved and grieving dog, Bean.
A memorial service will be held for family and friends in the spring. For those wishing to honor Seth's memory, we invite you to make a donation on his behalf to the Brandywine Valley SPCA in West Chester, PA. Updated service information and condolences at www.cavanaghfuneralhome.com
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