John Wilson Taylor, 60, passed away Tuesday, June 22, 2010 at Smyth County Community Hospital.
He was born February 12, 1950 in Danville, VA and was a son of the late Woodrow Wilson and Hazel Wall Taylor. He served with the U.S Army during the Vietnam War and was a decorated veteran having received a Bronze Service Star and Bronze Star Medal. He retired from the Washington County School System where he coached for 28 years at Patrick Henry High School and taught at the William N. Neff Center. John was a member of Masonic Lodge #236 in Glade Spring, Kazim Temple Shriners Club of Roanoke and past president of Desert Sands Shrine Club. John was a member of the Old Glade Presbyterian Church where he served on the deacon board and elder board. John was preceded in death by his son, Jason Todd, "Jay Tee" Taylor.
He is survived by his wife Jo Anne Brannon Taylor; daughter, Amanda Seymore Crosswhite and husband, Jerry of Glade Spring; granddaughter, Ally Marie Crosswhite; two brothers, Tom Taylor and wife, Anita of Emory, VA and Marvin Taylor and wife, Joan of Meadowview, VA; one sister, Carol Billings and husband, Harold of Roanoke, VA; brother-in-law, Dr. Lee Brannon and wife, Belinda of Glade Spring, VA and several nieces and nephews.
The family would also like to extend their gratitude to caregivers at Johnston Memorial Hospital ER; Bristol Regional CCU and ICU; Select Specialty Hospital; Valley Health Care; and Smyth County Community Hospital ER and ICU for their service and care over the past six months.
Funeral services will be conducted at 11:00 A.M. Friday, June 25, 2010 in the Old Glade Presbyterian Church Fellowship Hall with Rev. Timothy Bird officiating. Masonic services will be conducted by Glade Spring Masonic Lodge #236. Interment will follow in Old Glade Presbyterian Church Cemetery.
Pallbearers will be Sam Hill, Tom Hill, Bob Lane, Randy Pennington, Peco Norris, Bob Steele, Dub Ford, Charlie Jessee, Joe Preston, and Steve Johnston. Honorary Pallbearers will be Neff Center Faculty and Staff, Desert Shrine Club, former athletes of Patrick Henry High School and Men of Old Glade Spring Presbyterian Church.
The family will receive friends at Farris Funeral Service from 6:00 until 9:00 P.M. Thursday, June 24, 2010.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Old Glade Presbyterian Church, 33234 Lee Hwy, Glade Spring, VA 24340 or Shriner's Hospital for Children, 950 W. Faris Road., Greeneville, SC 29605.