Charles William Taylor

Pastor Charles William Taylor, 96, Seymour, passed away at 12:48 p.m. Wednesday, May 12, 2010, at St. Francis Hospital in Greenwood.
He was born Oct. 19, 1913, in Hamilton County, to Gail C. Taylor and Alta B. Small Taylor. He graduated from Scircleville High School in Clinton County.
Pastor Taylor received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Evansville College in 1948 and his Bachelor of Divinity from Asbury Theological Seminary in 1951. He was ordained a deacon in the United Methodist Church in 1948. In 1944, he began pastoring his first church in Yankeetown. Other churches he served included the Brooksburg and Vallonia charges, Brownstown, Bellaire, Indianapolis, Sellersburg, East Columbus Methodist and Grace Church in Indianapolis.
He retired from active ministry in 1979; following retirement he pastored Morris Street United Methodist Church as a part-time pastor for 14 years. After retiring the second time, he taught senior adult Sunday school classes in Martinsville and Crothersville Nazarene churches.
He served as a short-term missionary to Japan in 1959 with the Lacour Mission. During his pastorate, he made missionary trips to Haiti, Honduras, Matlapa, Mexico, and an Indian reservation in the United States. He also directed 14 tours to the Holy Land and Europe.
Pastor Taylor held his charge relationship at First United Methodist Church in Seymour.
On July 6, 1935, he married Mildred Anderson in Mooresville. She preceded him in death July 28, 1988. He later married Wilma McElfresh Gossman on Nov. 18, 1989, in Seymour; she survives.
Pastor Taylor is also survived by his daughter-in-law, Linda Taylor, Franklin; sons-in-law, Charles Sherman, Indianapolis, and Richard Rumph, Seymour; a brother, Leon Taylor, Chandler, Ariz.; a sister, Bernice Dalton, Newburgh; grandchildren, Pastor Rick (Teresa) Wilson, Debra (Carman) Collins, Steve Wilson, Bryan (Terri) Wilson and Lisa (Rick) Clark, all of Seymour, Mark (Jessica) Owen, Pompano Beach, Fla., Eric (Diane) Owen, Indianapolis, Tammy Lindstrom, Franklin, Tracie (Garrik) Alexander, Willowwood, Ohio, Tricia (Glenn) DaSilva, Corpus Christi, Texas, and Scott (Crystal) Taylor, Stacy Taylor and Charles David (Corinna) Taylor, all of Franklin; and stepgrandchildren, Mike Rumph, Tony (Luania) Rumph, Jonra (Phil) Rebber, Debbie (Dan) Gorbett, Jeff Rumph, Andy (Brandy) Rumph, Renee Gordon and Heather Martin. Pastor Taylor is also survived by 35 great-grandchildren and 21 great-great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his first wife; his three children, David Taylor, Miriam Sherman and Millicent Rumph; son-in-law, Lloyd Wilson; grandson, Michael Wilson; and three brothers, Lavon C. Taylor, Laverne C. Taylor and Lee Donald Taylor.
Visitation will be held at Seymour Nazarene Church, 311 Myers St., on Sunday from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Services will be held at 10 a.m. Monday at First Church of the Nazarene, with the Rev. Mark Wooten and Pastor Rick Wilson officiating. Friends may call on Monday one hour before the service.
A graveside service will be held at Nebo Memorial Park in Martinsville, with burial to follow.
Memorials may be given to the South Indiana Foundation for Retired Pastors, Brownstown United Methodist Church, Crothersville Nazarene Church or Celebrate Recovery at Seymour Nazarene Church.
Arrangements are under the direction of Voss & Sons Funeral Service, Seymour.
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