Edward P. Taylor, 73, businessman & fisherman

Edward P. Taylor, a longtime entrepreneur in Philadelphia, liked to tool the open road on his motorcycle and ply the waters of the Delaware Bay in his 28-foot fishing boat.

"He loved fishing," said his son, Donkki Jackson. "He'd fish wherever he could drop a line."

Eddie, who owned a number of businesses in Philadelphia, including the popular Hideaway Bar on Cobbs Creek Parkway in West Philadelphia, died May 30. He was 73 and lived in Bear, Del.

He was born in White Stone, Va., where he graduated from A.T. Wright High School in 1953. He moved to Philadelphia at the age of 18 and, after working in construction and as a truck driver, went into business.

He also ran a 7-Eleven store on Chestnut Street, a gas station and other businesses over a 30-year period.

In 1997, he moved to Bear. After his retirement, he drove a school bus for a company in Stanton, Del.

Eddie had a number of motorcycles, the last a 1500cc Honda Goldwing.

"It had a reverse gear, a radio, the works," his son said. "He would ride the bike, then go back to boating."

Eddie had a captain's license and was a member of the Pleasant Yacht Club in Sparrow's Point, Md. He had been a Mason.

He and his wife, Diane E. Taylor, were married in 1996. Besides his wife and son, he is survived by four other sons, Michael, Barry and Stanley Taylor, and Demond Jackson; two daughters, Tracey Barkley and Sorroya Tippette; a sister, Anthia Lee; 18 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Services: 11 a.m. today at First Baptist Church of Paschall, 71st Street and Woodland Avenue. Friends may call at 9 a.m. Burial will be in Fernwood Cemetery. *