Colonel Taylor
February 20, 1924 — January 6, 2014
Colonel William Doyle Taylor (Ret), or Bill, as he preferred to be called was born on 20 February 1924 in El Paso, Texas. He liked to say he brought his parents to San Antonio, TX when he was two years old. He departed for his Heavenly Home on January 6, 2014. He graduated from Brackenridge High School in 1941 and was a proud member of the Purple Gang, a group of former students from the class of 1941 who met monthly for many years. He attended Texas A&M and was a member of the War Class - the entire class left en-mass for duty in World War II. Bill was a bombardier-navigator during World War II serving in England, France and Belgium. Bill flew 27 combat missions in World War II in the B-26 aircraft. He returned to A&M and graduated in 1947 with a degree in Marketing & Finance. He was offered a regular commission which he accepted. Bill flew over 5,500 hours in 12 different aircraft. During Bill's 31 years of service he was awarded the Legion of Merit twice, the Distinguished Flying Cross, 8 Air Medals, the AF Commendation Medal twice, and the Army Commendation Medal. Bill later was sent to Korea in November, 1950. They put the airplanes, F-86's, on the same carrier the pilots and crew went on. The weather was so terrible that the starboard (the right side of the ship) split open and one of the airplanes was washed out to sea. The ship canted over 40 degrees and everyone was told to go topside. Because of the weather, the trip took a long time. They could only go five knots and food was running out. Bill flew 65 combat missions in Korea in the F-86. During the Vietnam War, he held a staff position at Headquarters Pacific Air Force and helped to write the Vietnam Pacification Plan. When Bill retired he was the Deputy Chief of Staff, Plans, Headquarters Air Training Command. Bill felt Jackie was his soul mate and they have been happily married for 39 years. Bill was raised in the First Baptist Church here in San Antonio and Jackie was a Presbyterian and they have been very faithful members of Windcrest United Methodist Church for almost thirty years where Bill served as Chairman of Finance, as well as the SPRC Chairman and Associate Lay Leader. Bill is the proud father of Robert "Bob" Taylor (Charlotte) and Peggy Taylor and the step-father of Lt Colonel Mark Aldrich and Marcia Aldrich Maurer (Billy) and the proud grandfather of six grandchildren (Troy, Matthew, Daniel, Melanie, Mason and Sarah), and two great grandchildren, Sophia and Logan. A celebration of life service will be held at Windcrest United Methodist Church on Friday, January 10th at 11:00 a.m. Burial will held on Wednesday, 15 January 2014 11:00am at Ft Sam Houston National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers family request that memorial donations be made to Windcrest United Methodist Church, 8101 Midcrown, Windcrest, TX 78239.
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