Robert Alvin Taylor

COLUMBIA - Robert A. “Bobby” Taylor passed away peacefully at home at the age of 87 on Sunday, June 24, 2018. He was born on November 27, 1930 in Winnsboro, SC, the son of the late Alvin Bartow Taylor and Louise Macken Taylor.

Bobby is survived by his children, Babette (Lane) Renfro of Columbia, SC and Kim Boruk of Hopkins, SC; grandchildren, Courtney (Nick) Vaughn of St. Augustine Beach, FL, and Connor Renfro of Columbia, SC; great-grandson, Ronin Vaughn; sister, Freida (Jimmie) Young; and many nieces and nephews.

Bobby graduated from Lower Richland High School and University of South Carolina. He was a member of the Air National Guard and served on the Air Force working as an Air Traffic Controller. After leaving the military, he worked with his father in the construction business and then opened his own company, R.A. Taylor Construction Co. He spent 25 years building homes in the Southeast part of Richland County. After leaving the construction business in the 1980s, he then worked for HUD as a home inspector and the City of Columbia as a construction manager, where he retired at the age of 80. After retirement, he spent time farming on his beloved property in Eastover.

He was a founding member of Asbury Memorial Methodist Church, where he was a member of the building committee and was in charge of various fundraisers for many years. He was also a Mason, a Shriner, a member of Lower Richland Ruritan and the Homebuilders Association.

He was predeceased by his wife of 45 years, Evelyn Denham Taylor and son, Robert Franklin Taylor.

He loved to stay busy and was not a person who sat still for long. He loved working, building houses, playing golf (where he won several local tournaments), flying planes, and spending time with his family, especially his grandchildren. He loved going to church and participating in Bible studies.

The family would like to extend thanks and appreciation to everyone who helped Bobby in the last few years, especially his nephews, Joey and Nicholas Young, and all the firemen at Station 29 who provided assistance and friendship. The family would also like to extend heartfelt gratitude to his longtime caregivers, Sheryl and Twilla Scott, whom he loved dearly and who became part of our family. Thank you to recent caregiver, Deborah Weaver, and to all the people at MSA Hospice for their compassionate care.

Even though Bobby could be blunt and direct with people, he had a good heart and helped many people throughout his life. Now he is at peace and free to walk outdoors anytime he wants and can keep moving.

A funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Thursday, June 28, 2018 at Lebanon United Methodist Church. The family will receive friends following the service in the church fellowship hall. Mr. Taylor will be at Dunbar Funeral Home, Devine Street Chapel on Wednesday, June 27, 2018 for viewing.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Lebanon UMC, 10219 Garners Ferry Road, Eastover, SC 29044 or Shriners Hospital for Children, 350 W Faris Road, Greenville, SC 29605.

Memories may be shared at www.dunbarfunerals.com.