Janet Mildred Taylor

Janet “Jan” Mildred (Westmen) Taylor, 95, a former golf administrator and well-respected player, died on June 5, 2023, at Ohio Living Swan Creek after a brief illness. She resided at Swan Creek for the last 14 years.

Jan was the Executive Director of the Toledo District Golf Association from 1972-1986. As director of the TDGA, she was one of only a handful of women administrators in the country. At her retirement, the TDGA established the Jan Taylor Husband-Wife Golf Tournament in her honor.

Jan served as the Executive Director of the Women’s Ohio State Golf Association and was a past president of Ohio Senior Women’s Invitational Golf Association and the Toledo Women’s District Golf Association. Considered a rules expert, Jan led seminars, officiated at golf tournaments, and served on two USGA committees. She spent several years as the Director of Course Rating for the TDGA and conducted course ratings on many state and regional golf courses.

Jan had a lifelong love of golf, whether it was playing, working as an administrator, or volunteering. She was a member of Highland Meadows Golf Club. An accomplished player, she won several club championships, numerous local and state tournaments. In recognition of Jan’s many years of dedication to the game of golf she was inducted into both the Ohio and Toledo Golf Halls of Fame and received the Burt Silverman Award for her strong contribution to Toledo area golf.

Jan’s positive attitude, optimistic outlook on life and humble nature was infectious and a true inspiration to her family and friends. She always looked forward and made the most of any situation without complaint. Jan especially enjoyed her ladies and couples golf outings, Friday nights at Loma Linda’s with friends, her winters in Florida and playing all sorts of games (tennis, bowling and cards) with friends and family. She was active member of the Swan Creek Community. She was a member of the former Covenant Presbyterian and Glendale Presbyterian churches.

The middle child of Horace and Mildred Westmen, Jan was born on Feb. 7, 1928, in New York, New York.

She graduated from Scarsdale High School, then attended her father’s alma mater, DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana, with both her siblings. A member of Kappa Alpha Theta Sorority, she graduated in 1949 with a degree in physical education.

Jan met her husband, Jim, at DePauw, and they were married April 15, 1950, in Scarsdale. The pair lived in Dayton and Detroit before settling their family of four in Toledo for Jim’s career as a sportswriter with The Blade.

Jan is survived by her daughters, Linda (Daryl) Siders, of Xenia, Ohio, and Judi (Bruce) Burns of Kernersville, North Carolina; son, Jim (Amy) Taylor, of Richmond, Virginia; daughter-in-law, Kelly Taylor, of Toledo; sister, Joan (Chuck) Battey, of Kansas City, Kansas; and grandchildren, Brian (Cara) Taylor, Brett (Gretchen) Taylor, Elliott (Sarah) Burns, Emily (Kyle) Flores, Sarah Burns (Ian Joyce), Lauren Taylor (fiancé Connor Rust), Allie (Mike) Henriques, Meredith (Daniel) Daugherty, and Kyle Taylor. She has 10 great grandchildren. She is predeceased by her husband, Jim Taylor; son Tom Taylor; son-in-law Gail Taylor; and brother, Robert Westmen.

A memorial service will be held at Ohio Living Swan Creek on Saturday, June 24 at 2 p.m. All are welcome to visit with the family prior to the service starting at 1 p.m. Jan will be buried at Fort Meigs Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a donation in Jan’s name to Toledo Junior Golf Association, P.O. Box 9006, Maumee, OH 43537 or to the activities fund at Ohio Living Swan Creek, 5916 Cresthaven Lane, Toledo, OH 43614. Please indicate “programming” in your donation to Swan Creek.

Arrangements entrusted to Walter Funeral Home, 4653 Glendale Avenue, Toledo, Ohio, 419-382-1700.