Crusader family and friends, as we shared this weekend, our beloved Father Kaylor passed peacefully from his earthly home to his heavenly home on Friday evening. Fr. Kaylor was a good and faithful servant, serving the Crusaders and community-at-large for decades. His legacy of more than 50 years of service to our community will last long into the future.
Please see the statement below from the Diocese announcing his passing along with funeral arrangements. There will be NO SCHOOL on Friday, as a reception will be held in the gym following the funeral Mass.
With sorrow, the Most Rev. David J. Bonnar, Bishop of Youngstown, has announced the death of Rev. Robert Kaylor, who died November 10, 2023. Father Kaylor was 79 years old and is survived by his brother Richard and sister-in-law April, and his nephew Rob and his wife Laura and great nieces Cecilia and Claire.
Father Kaylor was born April 29, 1944, the son of George and Helen Kaylor. He attended Saint Mary School in Massillon and Central Catholic High School in Canton. He attended John Carroll University in Cleveland before entering St. Gregory Seminary in Cincinnati and continuing to Mount St. Mary Seminary of the West in Norwood, Ohio where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy and a Master of Arts degree in Divinity. He also earned a Master of Arts degree in School Administration from Ashland University.
He was ordained May 23, 1970, by Bishop James W. Malone at St. Columba Cathedral.
Following ordination, Father Kaylor served as associate pastor at St. Michael Parish in Canton (1970-75) and was also part of the faculty of Central Catholic High School in Canton. In 1978 he became the Administrative Assistant and Pastoral Minister for the school (Central Catholic), in 1988 was named principal (and was appointed as President of Central Catholic from 2010 until his retirement). In addition to his duties at Central Catholic, he also served as temporary administrator at St. Paul Parish in Canton in 1986 and administrator at St. Therese Parish in Brewster beginning in 1998. In 2008 he became pastor of St. Therese Parish and retired in 2017.
Besides his dedication as a teacher, school principal, and pastor, Father Kaylor was active in the Canton Knights of Columbus, Catholic Young Adult Club of Stark County, and Rotary Club of Perry. He also served three terms on the Priest Personnel Board.
Calling hours will be held on, Thursday, November 16, 2023, at Saint Joan of Arc Church, Canton from 3:30-7:00 p.m., with Evening Vespers at 7:00 p.m., and on Friday, November 17, 2023, from 10:00-10:45 a.m. prior to the Mass of Christian Burial, at 11:00 a.m.