Fred Taylor was born August 12, 1933 on his grandfather’s farm, in the Township of Monroe, OH to parents John and Lou. When Fred was in the fifth grade, he and his family moved to Scottsdale, Arizona.
In 1955, he earned his Bachelor of Science from Arizona State.
In 1956, Fred moved to El Paso, TX to begin working for Goodyear. He worked as a service store manager in various locations, including Arizona, until 1964, when he and three other Goodyear employees took the big step to form a new tire sales corporation, Western States Tire Sales. Fred became Co-owner and General Manager. The new company sold earthmover tires to mines. Due to rapid Southwest mine expansion, the company grew at record pace, acquired retail stores in Arizona and New Mexico, and various truck and wholesale centers. Fred played a big part in Western States becoming the largest, privately-owned Goodyear tire dealership in the world. After leaving Western States Tire, he started a new business in 1985. He owned Bell Tire and Auto Service, a Goodyear franchise in Glendale, for 20 years, until it was sold in 2005.
Fred passed away peacefully at his home on March 26 2023, surrounded by family and his favorite country gospel music.
Those who didn’t know Fred from his business associations knew him instead through his humor, his commitment to God and his family, and for many years, his reputation as a prayer warrior. He once said that all that matters is what he did for a child. He wanted people to remember him as a Christian, and he said he hoped his children would also be Christians. We can take great joy in knowing that Fred’s legacy is alive and well for the next generations, due to his great number of children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. He will be greatly missed by all those who knew and loved him.
He was preceded in death by infant daughter Julie, son Russ, brother Jack, and parents, John and Lou.
Survivors include his wife of 40 years, Lynda; three sons, Fred Jr (Carrie), Steve (Amanda), Joseph; five daughters, Debbie (Keith), Lori (Bryan), Lisa (Mason), Kris (Eric), Dawn; and a multitude of beloved grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Memorial will be held on April 21 at 11:00AM, at New Life Community Church, 8155 W Thunderbird Road, Peoria, AZ. A light meal will be served after the service.
