Thomas "Tommy" Taylor Jr.

TAYLOR WINSTON-SALEM - Thomas "Tommy" Taylor, Jr. , 85, died August 7, 2010 at Forsyth Medical Center. Thomas was born on April 24, 1925 in Mc-Dowell County, West Virginia, to the late Wiley Thomas and Mable Barr Taylor, Sr. Mr. Taylor served his country proudly in the US Army Pacific Corridor from 1943 1946, as a Heavy Machine Gunner, serving in Southern Philippines, Western Pacific, Hawaii, Guam, and Japan. During his service, he received a Pacific Service Medal with two bronze stars, a Philippine Liberation Service Medal with one bronze star, a Good Conduct Medal and a WWII Victory Medal. Mr. Taylor's family moved to Marion, VA, in 1946, where he finished his education and met his wife, Juanita Bailey, also of Marion. While there, Tommy worked for Roy Blevins as a bus driver and later worked for Pat Jennings, congressman, as a chauffeur. He, with his family, moved to Winston-Salem in 1952, taking a job as an Over-the-Road Driver with McLean Trucking Company, retiring after 35 years of service in 1987 , with a Safe Driving record of over 2 million miles. Tommy loved to travel. After his retirement, he traveled with Holiday Tours of Randleman, NC, as much as he could and added many cruises to his list of travels, as well as many good friends. Among his favorite trips were Hawaii (where he was stationed during WWII), the Punch Bowl Crater, and the Panama Locks. Tommy is survived by his loving wife of 63 years, Juanita Bailey Taylor, of the home; one daughter, Carole Hastings, husband Dickie, of Kernersville; one son, Michael J. Taylor, wife Bonita, of Concord; five grandsons, Jeffrey Hastings (Tricia) of Kernersville, Jason Taylor (Maria) of Charlotte - with great-grandson, Jason, Jr. arriving in September, Jonathan Taylor, of Gastonia, Jeremy Taylor (Sarah) of Midland, NC, and Jesse Taylor of Concord; two sisters, Martha Tilson, of Marion, VA and Lucille Bailens of Maryland; and several nieces and nephews. A memorial service will be conducted on Tuesday, August 10, 2010 at 11:00 a.m. at Hayworth Miller Silas Creek Chapel with the Rev. Ellis Rouse, Rev. Phil Bauguess and Rev. Doug Watts officiating. The family will receive friends immediately following the service. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Victory Junction Gang, 4500 Adam's Way, Randleman, NC 27317 (www.victoryjunction.org) or Sedge Garden United Methodist Church Outreach Missions, 794 Sedge Garden Road, Kernersville, NC 27284. Online condolences may be made to www.hayworth-miller.com.