Benjamin G. Taylor

1917 - 2017

November 2, 1917 - July 12 , 2017
Colonel Benjamin G. Taylor Jr, "Ben", born November 2, 1917 in San Francisco, California, recently passed away on July 12 , 2017, after a fulfilled life. Ben was the son of B. Grant Taylor, and Kathryn Grunsky Taylor. He attended the University of California at Berkeley and graduated in 1939 with a BA degree in zoology. He received an army commission as 2nd Lieutenant in 1940 and retired in 1970 with the rank of army colonel.
The majority of Ben's career was served as an Inspector General with the 5th Army. He served in North Africa, Italy, southern France and Austria during World War II. In 1949, he was serving in the National Guard in Tennessee when he met Luanne Spence, his future bride of 63 years. After only a 3-month courtship, he married Luanne, daughter of Brigadier General William Spence and Beulah Brown Spence, in San Antonio Texas. He later served in the Korean War from 1950-52. Upon returning from Korea, Ben started a family with Luanne and subsequently had four kids in the space of nine years. In the early years of family life, they were stationed at army posts in Fort Leavenworth Kansas, Panama Canal Zone Panama, Fort Monroe Virginia, Ankara Turkey with the Military Assistance Group and Fort Sam Houston, Texas.
His greatest achievement (besides the rearing of his children) was participating in the initial development of the Army Residence Community in San Antonio Texas, a retirement community for military officers and their spouses. For seven years, he was the assistant to the Treasurer supporting the initial planning and the development of this community that has since successfully comforted so many retired military officers and their families.
Other achievements include:
Being present at the "Little Red Schoolhouse" in Reims, France on May 7, 1945 when the German Nazi Party met with the Allied Forces to sign the surrender documents ending the war in Europe;
Helping to organize the guest list for the funeral of General Douglas Macarthur in 1964; and Flying over Mount Ararat on a Turkish military mission to evaluate reports of sightings of Noah's Ark, 1965
In 1970, Ben retired from The Army - his last station was at the Quadrangle, Fort Sam Houston, TX.
Ben was known for his honesty, ready wit and kindness. As one colleague wrote, "Never have I known a more gentle man." In addition, Ben was recognized to be a superb dancer as the wives of his friends would attest. He provided welcomed relief for many of his male colleagues at weekend dances and social occasions.
For the last ten years, he enjoyed living in the community in which he helped to develop. The Army Residence Community brought so much joy to him and his wife Luanne; and it has improved the quality of life for all of its residents.
Ben is preceded in death by his wife, Luanne Spence Taylor, his sisters, Martha Anne Taylor Dobson and Betty Lou Taylor, and his parents. He is survived by his brother, George Grunsky Taylor and by his four children: Kate Mellina of Waco, Mary Englick of Denver, Benjamin Grant Taylor III of San Antonio, and Sarah Luse of Denver, along with seven grandchildren and six great grandchildren. The world is a lesser place in his absence. A celebration of his life will take place August 18th , 2017 at 9:30 a.m. at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery with full military honors. A reception will be held at 1:30 p.m. at the ARC main building. In lieu of flowers please make memorials to a charity of one's choice.