Professor Emeritus Charles F. Saylor, 83, passed away on Monday, January 20, 2020.
Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m., Saturday, Feb. 1 at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Columbia. Visitation will be one hour before mass at the church on Saturday. A private interment at Columbia Cemetery will follow the services.
Charles was born in San Pedro, California on April 6, 1936, the son of John A. Saylor and Mary Klotnya Saylor. He grew up in Seattle, Washington. Charles earned his bachelor’s and master’s degree from the University of Washington, Seattle. In 1968 Charles received his doctorate in Classics from the University of California, Berkeley. He taught Classical Studies at the University of California, Davis and San Diego State University before moving to Columbia in 1968. Charles taught at the University of Missouri for 42 years until his retirement in 2010. He served as chairman of the Classical Studies Department from 1984 to 1996. His long list of publications reflects his particular interest in Roman comedy and silver Latin literature. He was also interested in classical tradition in Master painters.
Charles, a beloved husband, father and grandfather was always smiling and had a wonderful sense of humor. Charles enjoyed sports, spending time with his family, working around his house and in the yard, and walking his dog at Twin Lakes. Dr. Saylor married his wife of 62 years, the former Gayle Galvin of Los Angeles, California in 1958.
Survivors include his wife Gayle of Columbia; a son, Scott Saylor of St. Paul, Minnesota and his wife Amy and children Charlie, Greta and Amelia; a daughter, Shawn Hastings of St. Louis and her husband Justin and children Hollie and Anna; and sister, Frances Zimmerman of Lompoc, California.