William Perry Tayman

WILLIAM PERRY TAYMAN (“Bill”) (Age 98), passed away peacefully in his sleep on Tuesday, November 2, 2021, at his home in Staunton VA, formerly of Reston, VA. He was a loving husband to his predeceased wife of 65 years, Hester Pope Tayman, a proud father to Bonnie (Fred) Powell of Waynesboro, VA and William (Marie) Tayman, Jr. of Bethesda, MD; and a very proud grandfather of Fred Powell (Kim), Amy Stearns (Palmer), Ryan Tayman (Jennifer), Corrie Myers (Brad) and William Kyle Tayman (Kathleen); and, great-grandfather of 10.  His family loved him deeply and stood in awe of his many contributions to his country as a soldier and civil servant.

Bill was born in the District of Columbia and graduated from Wilson High School. At age 20, he enlisted in the Army and served in the 87th Infantry Division in Patton’s Third Army during World War II.  Bill fought in an infantry rifle company in the Battle of the Bulge, earning a Silver Star for his heroics during battle at Moircy, Belgium. He was also decorated with a Bronze Star and Purple Heart, being wounded by machine gun fire, a Combat Infantry Badge, the European Service Medal with three bronze stars, Knight of the Order of the Crown from Belgium, and the Croix de Guerre with Bronze Star from France. He was proud of his service and combat record, and later served as the president of the Veterans of the Battle of the Bulge for the 50th Anniversary Commemoration of the greatest battle ever fought by the United States Army.

Returning home from the war in 1945, he received his formal education at George Washington University and the Department of Commerce graduate school under the GI Bill. He worked at the National Bureau of Standards (now the National Institute of Standards and Technology) for 26 years, in the Optical Physics Division. Later in his career, he was a physical scientist with the U.S. Geological Survey and retired in 1984 as Chief of the Optical Science Section in the National Mapping Division. His work focused on the development and improvement of aerial photography through camera design, construction, and calibration, all vital to the progress of modern topographic maps and surveys based on aerial photography. He authored many papers in this field and worked on several significant matters, including calibrating the first weather satellite camera; the multiband camera used to map the Moon; Navistar Global Positioning System (GPS) calibration; development and calibration of the NASA Orbiter Space Shuttle Camera; and evaluated the camera and film belonging to Lee Harvey Oswald for the Select Committee on the Assassination of John F. Kennedy.

Following retirement, he served as a foreign service consultant for the U.S. Agency of International Development on projects in Morocco. He was a Certified Photogrammetrist and recognized expert in international aerial camera standards. In his retirement he pursued many passions: he was an ardent gardener, loved to swim, and regularly rode his bike well into his 80’s.

The family would like to express special appreciation to all of Dad’s caregivers at Brightview. 

In lieu of flowers the family suggests memorial contribution to the National MS Society, P O. Box 91891, Washington, DC 20090.  Contribute online at https://www.nationalmssociety.org/Chapters/MDM/Donate

A Memorial Service and interment in Arlington National Cemetery will take place at a later date.

The family is being served by Charlton and Groome Funeral Home, Fishersville, VA.

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