James Winsor Taylor, 95, died on December 8, 2015 in Jacksonville, FL. He was the son of Winsor A. and Dorothy B. Taylor and graduated from Massena High in Massena, NY, and from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1943. He met Virginia Hicklin when part of his class was brought to the Naval Air Station in Jacksonville. In the U. S. Navy he served four years in the South Pacific during World War II. He served on the light cruiser, Columbia, later on the carrier, Princeton and he was in the Battle of Leyte Gulf. He was awarded a Purple Heart. He resigned his commission in 1947, and began work at Capitol Concrete Company for next 33 years. The ready mixed concrete business grew until the company was sold to Florida Rock Industries in 1973. He retired in 1979. He served the South Jacksonville Presbyterian Church as both a Deacon and an Elder. He was Past President of the American Cancer Society (Duval County); Past Crusade Chairman, American Cancer Society (Duval County); Board Member, Florida Division, Florida American Cancer Society; Past President, Rotary Club of South Jacksonville; Member of the Board of Directors, Rotary Club of South Jacksonville; Past President, Florida Concrete and Products Association; Past Member of Board of Governors, Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce, and Past Chairman, Florida State Racing Commission.
He received a national award, 1959, from the American Cancer Society as Crusade Chairman of the Year. He also received a Duval County Award of Achievement from American Cancer Society for the installation of a cobalt therapy unit at Duval Medical Center. During his retirement, he grew to love the study of the God’s Word through the Monday evening men’s class of Bible Study Fellowship in Jacksonville.
He leaves behind his dear wife of 71 years, Virginia (Gin), age 95; children, James Winsor Taylor, Jr., (Letta Jean), Constance T. Crenshaw (Mack), Susan T. Harris (Larry), Mary T. Somerville (Nelson; grandchildren, Katherine Jean Condon, James Winsor Taylor, III, Taylor Sommers, McCarthy Crenshaw, III, Ginny Shea, Susan Mauro, Jay Crenshaw, Jon Crenshaw, John Harris, Bryan Harris, Nelson Somerville, Winsor Vanderhill, John Somerville, and Ginny Hudnut, and many great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his sister, Mary T. Brown.
A Memorial Service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, December 12th in Westside Christian Family Chapel, 4541 Shirley Ave. Ste 8, Jacksonville, FL 32210.
Arrangements are under the care and direction of Hardage-Giddens Funeral Home of Mandarin, 11801 San Jose Blvd. Jacksonville, FL 32223 www.hgmandarin.com (904) 288-0025.
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