Robert Rae Taylor died April 22 at the age of 97. Mr. Taylor was born on June 26, 1924 to Oda and Clara Taylor in Darlington, Indiana. He spent his youth constantly working to help the family on their twelve acre farm while attending school. He delivered milk, churned cream into butter and delivered newspapers before school. His favorite pastime was baseball. During World War II, eighteen year olds were being drafted. Before he could be drafted, he volunteered for the Army Air Corp in 1943. His enlistment sent him to Camp Pinedale in Fresno where he waited to be assigned a permanent duty. His WWII time was spent in the Philippines and New Guinea working radio communications. He was discharged in 1947. While at Camp Pinedale, he met and fell in love with Norma Hauff. They married five months later on October 8, 1943. He was 19. She was 18. They were married 72 years. After the war Robert and Norma started their lives together in Indiana where Robert worked at the A&P Grocery Store. They left for Fresno a short time later where he said he would never have to shovel snow again. Robert entered the wholesale grocery business where he worked for 46 years. The company was Buy Rite Whole Sale Foods and later sold to S.E.Rykoff. He started out as a buyer and later became the general manager. Mr. Taylor’s passion has always been golf. He was a member of San Joaquin Country Club for over 40 years. He loved the game and the many friends he met there. He was quite proud of shooting his age 299 times and dreamed of making it 300. Even in his mid nineties he talked about that last game. He played golf regularly until the age of 95. His Christian faith was also an important part of his life that was instilled in him at an early age by his parents. He was a past member of St. Luke’s Methodist Church and later Northwest Church. He attended many Bible studies throughout his life. He made index cards of his favorite Bible verses and passed them on to his children and grandchildren.
Mr. Taylor is survived by his sister Rosalie Skiles; two daughters and their spouses, Sandra and David Hansford, Barbara and Richard Kinney, seven grandchildren, and nine great grandchildren. He is also survived by his loving companion of the last four years, Carolyn Bloodworth. He was preceded in death by his son Douglas, his wife Norma, and his sister Helen Bendoski.
A visitation for Robert will be held Tuesday, May 3, 2022 from 9:00 am to 10:30 am at Lisle Funeral Home, 1605 L Street, Fresno, CA 93721. Following the visitation will be a graveside service at 12:00 pm at Fresno Memorial Gardens, 175 South Cornelia Ave, Fresno, CA 93706.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.lislefuneralhome.com for the Taylor family.
