Obituary of Floyd William Taylor

WEST COLUMBIA-Chief Warrant Officer III, Floyd William Taylor, US Navy Ret., 93, passed away on Thursday, May 8, 2014. He was the son of the late Raymond and Laura Taylor. Surviving are his wife of 72 years, Meldred Elizabeth (Steadman) Taylor, daughter, Kathleen L. Bonyne, and son, LTC Joseph R. Taylor, US Army Ret. (Julia) and two sisters, Ruth Schultz of Missouri and Lydia Brinker of Ohio. He was predeceased by a son-in-law, Lewis Bonyne and a daughter, Joanne E. Ouzts (William). He was well loved by 7 grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren. Floyd was born on July 20, 1920, in Kansas City, MO. He graduated from Junction City, Kansas High School and enlisted in the Navy in 1938. He served on active duty for 21 years and was a veteran of WWII and Korea. He participated in the invasion of North Africa in 1942 aboard the flagship USS Augusta. He was then transferred to a new crusier, USS Mobile and participated in the Pacific theater battles for Tarawa, the Marshall Islands, and other campaigns in the South Pacific. After retiring from active duty, Floyd was employed as a Naval Science Instructor at Aiken, Strom Thurmond, and Brookland-Cayce High Schools, and served in this capacity for 12 years. He retired from the NJROTC program in 1982 and was employed by Bankair Carriers for 10 years as Safety Officer. One of the outstanding events of Floyd's retirement years was participating in an Honor Flight to visit the WWII Memorial in Washington, DC, accompanied by his son. A visitation will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Monday, May 12, 2014, prior to the service at 2:00 p.m. at Platt Springs United Methodist Church, 3215 Platt Springs Road, West Columbia, SC 29170. Burial will follow with full military honors in Woodridge Memorial Park, 138 Corley Mill Road, Lexington, SC 29072. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, memorials be made to Platt Springs United Methodist Church in Springdale or the Honor Flight Program of SC.