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The last living World War II Veteran of Love County, Charles J. "Bill" Taylor, peacefully passed away while surrounded by his family, Thursday, August 12, 2021 at the age of 95. Funeral services were held at 10 a.m. Monday, August 16 in the Flanagan-Watts Funeral Home Chapel, Marietta with Johnny Reed and Murray McMurray officiating. Interment with military honors was held at the Cottage Hill Cemetery in Celina, Texas at 2 p.m.
Bill was born September 24, 1925 in Princeton, Texas, the son of Charlie Bud and Sallie Elizabeth Long Taylor. He grew up with his nine brothers and sisters on their family farm near Celina. At the age of 16, he lost both of his parents and two sisters in a fire at the family farm. At the age of 17, he enlisted in the United States Air Force. He was immediately assigned to the North Atlantic Fleet and sent to the North Pole, Greenland, and the Baffin Islands to sink German submarines. Later, he was assigned to the group that started the Strategic Air Command.
He returned home on leave and married the love of his life, Frances Jo Lankford on September 4, 1944 in McKinney, Texas. Bill and Jo were married 68 years. They were blessed with three daughters and one son.
Bill owned and operated a grocery business in Irving, Texas for several years and in 1974 he sold the business and moved to Oklahoma. He became employed with Love County District I and had worked there for more than 40 years. He was affectionately known there as "Grandpa". Bill was also known for his "Domino Hall" that he built in his shop at his home. Bill and his friends spent many wonderful hours playing dominos and telling tall tales. Bill and Jo spent more than 48 wonderful years in the Thackerville community.
Bill was preceded in death by his wife, Frances Jo Taylor; parents, Charlie Bud and Sallie Elizabeth Long Taylor; and his siblings, Maggie Norman, Laverne Desmond, Ralph Taylor, Jimmy Watkins Taylor, Nellie Mae Taylor, Betty Ruth Blackmon, Myrtle Taylor, and Dovie Taylor.
He is survived by his children, Connie Lynn and husband Gordon Mize, Charles Steven Taylor and wife Jocelyn, Terri Ann and husband Wayne Clark, and Tina Gayle and husband Johnny Reed; grandchildren, Stephanie Langston, Johnny Mitcheson, Charles Weston Edwards, Tabatha Lowery, Starla DeLaGarza, Carla Cannon, Nikki Reed, and Taylor Reed; 11 great-grandchildren; and one brother, Buck Taylor.
Bill will be remembered as a fair and honest man, a devoted Christian who loved the Lord with all his heart, and an active member of the Thackerville Baptist Church.
Online guest book: wattsfuneralhome.com
Flanagan-Watts
This obituary included a photo of Mr. Taylor.
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