Obituary

Vincent Byron Taylor
March 23, 1944 - December 27, 2023
After a lifetime of making the world a better place, a wonderful, loving, gentle soul now rests in peace.
Artist and craftsman Vincent Byron Taylor died peacefully at home in Sonoma on Wednesday, December 27th 2023, after a brave battle with the Glioblastoma brain tumor diagnosed last January.
In 1970 Vince was teaching school in southern California but was looking for something "socially relevant" to do after serving with the Peace Corps in Peru. He found the answer by creating his own stained, etched, and leaded glass studio in Sonoma, California, and by age 45 he was a self-supporting glass master. The quality of his work was well recognized and was featured in many arts festivals around the Bay Area.
Vince had an uncanny ability to intuit what his clients wanted. In addition to glass, he did the fine carpentry and woodwork to house the windows. He also etched his designs onto tabletops, shower doors, screens, and room partitions. Vince built his own equipment and personally did every step down to the final installation. His designs are classic, elegant and capture the living essence of nature. His art, ranging in scale from modest windows to massive partitions, can be found in residences and businesses around the state and even in Japan. Check out his website: vtglass.net.
Vince was an enthusiastic and excellent Swedish folk dancer. He was a well-loved and admired participant and a caring instructor, teaching for over a decade. He was a trusted member of the Mendocino Scandia Folkdance Camp leadership. He made yearly trips to Sweden for "Polska Medal Testing", a demonstration before a jury of official Swedish dance specialists to prove his command of the dance. Vince had many Swedish friends who appreciated his friendship and his ability to relate to all ages.
As one of the original founders of the Arts Guild of Sonoma, he will be missed by many friends and associates here in town.
Vince was a loving and dedicated husband and father who would do anything for his family. He is preceded in death by his mother, Eleanor Mary Rankin, his father, Byron Karl Taylor, and brother, Ross Stewart Taylor. Vince leaves behind his wife, Pat Rather, his children, Bene Rather-Taylor and Alex Rather-Taylor, and his sister, Janet Marie Micalizio.