Official Obituary of
Herbert Roy Taylor Jr.
January 8, 1924 ~ April 16, 2018 (age 94) 94 Years Old
Herbert Taylor Jr. Obituary
Retired U.S. Air Force Capt. Herbert “Herb” Taylor, 94, of Salida died April 16, 2018, at his home with friends and caregivers at his side.
He was born Jan. 8, 1924, to Hazel and H.R. Taylor Sr. in Clarksburg, W. Va.
His family said flying was his life. He learned to fly at age 14 in West Virginia, where his father was a pilot.
After graduating from high school in Clarksburg in 1940, he enrolled at West Virginia University for a degree in meteorology.
When World War II started, he enlisted in the Aviation Cadet Program at age 18 and was called into active duty and earned his pilot’s wings and commission at age 19.
He finished his combat tour at age 21 and earned membership in the elite Lucky Bastards Club on Feb. 3, 1945, after completing 35 bombing missions in Germany during the war.
During the Battle of the Bulge mission he was seated beside Jimmy Stewart, who was the command pilot on that mission. Stewart went on to become an actor after the war.
After the war Capt. Taylor frequently was called upon to fly generals and other high-ranking officials to various locations, flying a DC-3.
Several of the planes he flew are on display in the Smithsonian Institution.
He was also a member of the Lost Angels Flying Club.
When he retired from the U.S. Air Force in 1954, he was hired by North Central Airlines at Willow Run Airport in Ypsilanti, Mich., flying between the hub in Green Bay, Wis., and Midway Airport in Chicago.
In 1955 he was hired by American Airlines and remained with the company until 1984, when he retired as a commercial pilot. During his career with American Airlines he was based in Fort Worth, Texas, flying a Boeing 707 and could have gone on to fly the 747, but that would have required a move to Los Angeles and he chose not to move his family.
He married his wife, Barbara Joan “Babs,” in 1945. They were married 73 years at the time of his death.
When his commercial flying ended, he and his wife continued to enjoy flying and riding motorcycles. Between flying and motorcycling, they traveled all around the world, He also enjoyed sailboats and won countless regattas
When he retired from flying at age 84, he had more than 70 years of flying experience.
During the mid-1960s into the late 1970s he enjoyed building model airplanes and furniture, and he was known to family and friends as a great storyteller.
The Taylors have lived in Salida since 1984.
Survivors include his wife; son, Jeff (Karen) Taylor; daughter, Melinda Beth Hodges; three grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and a soon-to-be-born great-grandson.
At his request there will be no memorial service.
Cremation was by Lewis and Glenn Funeral Home in Salida.
Online condolences may be offered at lewisandglenn.com.
He was born Jan. 8, 1924, to Hazel and H.R. Taylor Sr. in Clarksburg, W. Va.
His family said flying was his life. He learned to fly at age 14 in West Virginia, where his father was a pilot.
After graduating from high school in Clarksburg in 1940, he enrolled at West Virginia University for a degree in meteorology.
When World War II started, he enlisted in the Aviation Cadet Program at age 18 and was called into active duty and earned his pilot’s wings and commission at age 19.
He finished his combat tour at age 21 and earned membership in the elite Lucky Bastards Club on Feb. 3, 1945, after completing 35 bombing missions in Germany during the war.
During the Battle of the Bulge mission he was seated beside Jimmy Stewart, who was the command pilot on that mission. Stewart went on to become an actor after the war.
After the war Capt. Taylor frequently was called upon to fly generals and other high-ranking officials to various locations, flying a DC-3.
Several of the planes he flew are on display in the Smithsonian Institution.
He was also a member of the Lost Angels Flying Club.
When he retired from the U.S. Air Force in 1954, he was hired by North Central Airlines at Willow Run Airport in Ypsilanti, Mich., flying between the hub in Green Bay, Wis., and Midway Airport in Chicago.
In 1955 he was hired by American Airlines and remained with the company until 1984, when he retired as a commercial pilot. During his career with American Airlines he was based in Fort Worth, Texas, flying a Boeing 707 and could have gone on to fly the 747, but that would have required a move to Los Angeles and he chose not to move his family.
He married his wife, Barbara Joan “Babs,” in 1945. They were married 73 years at the time of his death.
When his commercial flying ended, he and his wife continued to enjoy flying and riding motorcycles. Between flying and motorcycling, they traveled all around the world, He also enjoyed sailboats and won countless regattas
When he retired from flying at age 84, he had more than 70 years of flying experience.
During the mid-1960s into the late 1970s he enjoyed building model airplanes and furniture, and he was known to family and friends as a great storyteller.
The Taylors have lived in Salida since 1984.
Survivors include his wife; son, Jeff (Karen) Taylor; daughter, Melinda Beth Hodges; three grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and a soon-to-be-born great-grandson.
At his request there will be no memorial service.
Cremation was by Lewis and Glenn Funeral Home in Salida.
Online condolences may be offered at lewisandglenn.com.
To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Herbert Roy Taylor Jr., please visit our floral store.
Friends and family have shared their relationship to show their support.
How do you know Herbert Roy Taylor Jr.?
We are sorry for your loss.
Help others honor Herbert's memory.
Email
Print
Copy
Services
No services to be held
© 2024 Lewis and Glenn Funeral Home and Fairview Cemetery. All Rights Reserved. Funeral Home website by CFS & TA | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Accessibility