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Carriage lover ‘exits’ in horse-drawn hearse

By Bill O’Boyle boboyle@timesleader.com
Staff Writer

FORTY FORT – George Taylor took his final ride Tuesday in the back of one of the vehicles he cherished most, a horse-drawn hearse that made its way through Forty Fort and clip-clopped nearly four miles to the shade of an old silver maple tree.

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The final wish of George Taylor was carried out on Tuesday when his body was taken to the Wyoming Cemetery in a horse-drawn hearse.

AIMEE DILGER photos/THE TIMES LEADER

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A Navy bugler played taps as the body of George Taylor is transported into the Wyoming Cemetery in a horse-drawn carriage on Tuesday afternoon.

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Taylor, who died on Friday at the age of 94, was laid to rest in the family plot at Wyoming Cemetery with family and friends in attendance. It marked the end of a lifelong journey for Taylor, who bought, restored and adored more than 200 antique carriages. A carpenter by trade, Taylor purchased his first carriage in 1970, said his grandson Michael Schwartz. The collection grew and grew and now the family will decide what will become of it.

Lois Jean Schwartz, Taylor’s daughter, arranged to have her father’s casket carried to the cemetery from the Forty Fort United Methodist Church. “His desire was always to go out in a horse-drawn hearse,” she said. “It’s the best way I thought that I could honor my father.”

Joe Tetz and Ann Ventresca, owners of Horse Drawn Funerals in New Tripoli, provided the transportation for Taylor’s service. Tetz knew Taylor and said Taylor mentioned to him on at least one occasion that he wanted to be carried in a horse-drawn hearse when his time came.

The hearse used to transport Taylor’s flag-draped casket was built in 1902 by Pease Brothers Co. in Merrimack, Mass. The gray hearse was pulled by two magnificent black Friesian horses named Anna and Pete.

Following the church service, Taylor’s casket was brought to the hearse with several people gathered to watch the proceedings. “This is wonderful to see him be carried in that carriage,” said Marilyn Rozelle, who knew Taylor as her first Sunday school teacher. “Collecting carriages was his hobby; it was what he enjoyed.”

As the funeral procession pulled from the curb, the sound of Anna and Pete’s polished hooves hitting the pavement of Wyoming Avenue could be heard above the sound of passing cars. Smiles appeared on the faces of onlookers as Taylor rode by. After a pass by his old homestead, the procession turned onto Wyoming Avenue again for the trek to the cemetery. Tetz said his horses would tire by the time they reached the cemetery almost 30 minutes later.

Traffic was slowed on the four-lane avenue as the funeral procession of hearse followed by cars pressed on. Many people paused to watch Anna and Pete carry Taylor along. There were no horns blaring, no anxious motorists trying to sneak by – the procession was allowed to travel at Anna and Pete’s pace out of respect.

The carriage and cars approached the Wyoming Cemetery and the horses panted at journey’s end, pausing in the shade to get relief from the humid 75 degrees of the day.

Michael Schwartz said his grandfather’s carriages have been willed to members of the family.

“I’m not sure what will happen to his collection,” Schwartz said. “I really don’t know how many are left out there.”

Taylor was a member of the Kiwanis Club of Wilkes-Barre, serving as president of the Wheelchair Club for 22 years. He was honored by the club and Kiwanis International and received the Tablet of Honor and George F. Hixson Fellowship for his outstanding service to the Kiwanis.

“He did a lot to help a lot of people,” said Phyllis Brandwene, past president of the Kiwanis. “This is a perfect tribute.”

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