J. G. "Tracy" Taylor, Jr.

J.G. ‘Tracy’ Taylor, Jr., 95, went to be with his Savior, Jesus Christ, on July 14, 2016. Tracy was born September 19, 1920 in Kinston, NC, the oldest of three siblings. Tracy attended Edwards Military Institute, Salemburg, NC, graduating in 1938, after which he enlisted in the Army Air Corps. Following a time of basic and specialized training, Tracy was assigned to the 27th Bombardment Group which was sent in November, 1941 – the weeks preceding the outbreak of WWII - to defend the Philippines. It was during this assignment that Tracy – part of an under-equipped force of 12,000 Allied soldiers from several countries - was taken prisoner-of-war by Japanese forces. Tracy survived this 3 ½ year wartime incarceration, returning to the United States upon the conclusion of WWII in the Pacific. He was awarded the Bronze Star Medal for his distinguished and meritorious acts of service in combat. In 1946 Tracy relocated to Florida where he met and married the love-of-his-life Carolyn ‘Bebe’ Taylor; they had two sons – J.G. ‘Jack’, III, and Terry, and a daughter, Lou. Tracy earned his Bachelors degree from the University of Tampa in 1951. Tracy was ever the patriot of this country, serving as the Hillsborough County, FL Veterans Service Officer for 28 years and subsequently serving at the Federal Veterans Administration level for an additional ten years. Throughout Tracy’s life he maintained a high level of activity and commitment to state and national Veterans organizations such as the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Disabled American Veterans, and the Forty & Eight – an honor society of the American Legion. Tracy was a caring, generous, and devoted husband, father, grandfather, uncle, friend and neighbor to many. He loved and served his Lord faithfully – the Taylor family were longtime members of Zion Lutheran Church and St. Matthew Lutheran Church in Tampa. Survivors include sons, Jack (Donna) and Terry (Donna); daughter, Lou; grandson, J.G. ‘Tate’, IV; granddaughters, Annie (Luke) Farrow, Erica, Christina and Lisa and his sister, Jane Taylor Stephenson of Boykins, VA. Interment at Florida National Cemetery, Bushnell, FL. A memorial service will be held at Family of Christ Lutheran Church West Campus (formerly St. Matthew Lutheran Church), 5601 Hanley Road, Tampa on Saturday, August 6, 11:00 a.m. Words of comfort for the family may be shared at www.blountcurrycarrollwood.com