Kenneth Taylor, founder of Tyndale House Publishers, died Friday at age 88 in his home in Wheaton, Ill. Taylor also created The Living Bible, a paraphrase of Scripture that was embraced by Billy Graham and became the nation's best-selling book for three years.

Taylor founded one the country's largest Christian publishing houses, known most recently as the publisher of the "Left Behind" series. Taylor and his wife, Margaret, launched Tyndale in 1962 with the publication of Living Letters, a paraphrase of the New Testament epistles. The first printing was 2,000 copies, and at that time, the Taylors operated out of their dining room.

Kenneth Taylor's son and current Tyndale President Mark Taylor said, "Making Scripture accessible for all people was my father's passion." Mark Taylor also said many people have told him they became a Christian upon reading The Living Bible. "Even at 88 years old, (my father's) enthusiasm and fervor for his work never waned."

Kenneth Taylor was president of Tyndale until 1984, when he turned over the reins to his son. He continued to serve as chairman of the board from 1984 until his death.

In a career consisting of 65 years in the publishing industry, Kenneth Taylor began his career as editor of HIS magazine and later served as director of Moody Press in Chicago. He wrote many children's books, including The Bible in Pictures for Little Eyes and My First Bible in Pictures.

He was born May 8, 1917, in Portland, Ore., graduated from Wheaton College in 1938, attended Dallas Theological Seminary for three years and graduated from Northern Baptist Seminary in Chicago in 1944.

Kenneth Taylor is survived by his wife, 10 children, 28 grandchildren and 22 great-grandchildren. Visitation is scheduled from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday at Wheaton College. Funeral services will be held Wednesday at 10 a.m. at the college.

A full story will appear in the Aug. 8 issue of Christian Retailing.