Col. Dale William Taylor Ret.

Dale W. Taylor, 93, entered into eternal rest at Memphis Jewish Home, in Memphis, TN, to be with his beloved wife, Shirley E. Taylor, on October 27, 2011. Born in Wooster, Ohio on August 3, 1918, he graduated from Wooster High School in 1937 and attended Ohio State University for two years where he played baseball. He was later recruited to the Cleveland Indians Minor League before enlisting into the United States Army. He spent two years at the U.S. Army Cavalry School in Ft. Riley, Kansas for basic training and horsemanship. Upon completion of basic training, he became an instructor in horsemanship. Col. Taylor then attended Officer Candidate School and graduated as a 2nd LT in 1942. His first assignment as an officer was with the Cavalry Training Center, Ft. Riley, Kansas. It was here that he began his long love for horsemanship. In 1944, he was deployed to Europe as part of the 28th Infantry Division and received the Bronze Star, four Battle Stars and other meritorious awards for serving in WWII. In 1945, he returned to serve at the US Army Ground School at Ft. Riley, Kansas. He then was selected for the US Army Flight Training Program at Sheppard Field, TX and Ft. Sill, OK and graduated as an army aviator in 1946. His next assignments in his 30 year military career took him to Vienna, Austria and Munich, Germany from 1947 to 1950. He was the personal pilot for General E.B. Sebree. He returned to the United States in 1950 to attend the Armor Officer Advanced Course at Ft. Knox, Kentucky. Between 1950 and 1966, Dale was assigned to numerous military posts to include Governor’s Island, N.Y., Formosa, Taiwan, Ft. Hood, Texas, Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas, Ft. Meade, Maryland and a second tour in Germany, where he commanded an Army Cavalry Squadron. Upon completing another assignment at the Command & General Staff College in 1966, he went to Ankara, Turkey and was assigned to the Central Treaty Organization and served as the US representative for war and defense plans.

In 1968, Dale and his family moved to Savannah, Georgia where he was the Director of Airfield Operations, at Hunter Army Airfield until his retirement in February 1971. It was here he was awarded the Legion of Merit and settled in to pursue civilian interests. He joined Trust Company Bank of Savannah as a branch manager and then retired once again in 1982 after 10 years in the banking industry.

He continued to provide horsemanship lessons throughout the Savannah area and taught his daughter to ride, who won several awards throughout the Southeastern U.S. He also passed on his love for horses to his granddaughters and great granddaughter. Dale is preceded in death by his beloved wife of 66 years, Shirley E. Taylor who entered into eternal rest on June 28, 2007.

He was a life member of the U.S. Army Aviation Association, U.S. Army Cavalry Association, Retired Officers Association and the Garden City Westside Exchange Club. He was a Godly man who was also a member of White Bluff United Methodist Church, Savannah, GA and later, Mineral Wells United Methodist Church, Olive Branch, MS.

Dale leaves three children, Richard Taylor of Madison, GA, Ronald Taylor of Dacula, GA and Susan Laros of Olive Branch, MS. He also leaves 6 grandchildren, Alicia Boardman, Jason Taylor, Ricky Taylor, Katie Taylor, Holly Laros Engberg, Heather Laros Beard, 8 great grandchildren, Alex Boardman, Holly Taylor Goss, Drew Taylor, Braden Taylor, Kyle Taylor, Carly Taylor, Torey Taylor, Jenna Engberg, 1 great great grandchild, Ryley Taylor Goss, and man’s best friend, Daisy.

Dale’s internment will be at the Old Cavalry Post Cemetery in Ft. Riley, Kansas. Any memorial donations may be sent to Mineral Wells United Methodist Church: Building Fund, P.O. Box 771, Olive Branch, MS 38654.