William K. Taylor, Jr.

TAYLOR, William K., Jr. “Wild Bill”, age 87 of Brooksville was born in PA on January 31, 1924 and passed away on Thursday, September 1, 2011 in the loving care of his family and Hospice. He joined the Marines at an early age & served as a paratrooper in Guadalcanal. He was decorated with a Purple Heart for injuries sustained in battle. He was proud to serve his country. Some of his experiences are published in “The Battalion of the Damned” by James Christ. Bill married his first wife Martha in 1947 and together they had three daughters. She passed away of cancer in 1966. Bill and his present wife of 44 years, Jean moved to Florida in 1970 and lived a short time in North Carolina. Bill was a barber by trade and owned Bill’s Barber Shop for several years but with an entrepreneur spirit he ventured into the restaurant business, first having a soda shop, then “Ginny & Bill’s Dug Out” restaurant and bar. Bill also started a Chinchilla farm and raised rabbits to sell to the market and in his retirement years started the “Cinderella Horse and Carriage” business. He loved the soil and planted his own vegetable garden, giving most of his crop to neighbors, family & friends. He is survived by his wife Jean and three daughters: Janet Gincley of PA, Susan Parnell & Ginny Krisky, both of St. Petersburg, 7 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren. “Wild Bill” was a Marine at heart and he and his wife traveled all over the country to attend reunions with his fellow comrades. He will be remembered as a man of strong character who truly loved God, family and his country. A memorial service will be held 11:00am Wednesday, September 7, 2011 at the Marine Corps Detachment League #708 on Sunshine Gove in Brooksville, FL.

Arrangements by

Merritt Funeral Home

Spring Hill Chapel

(352) 686-6649

“Family Owned & Operated”

www.merrittfuneral.com