Willis Lee Taylor

Willis Lee Taylor (Bill) was born in Monroe, NC on July 21, 1929 the eldest son of Fairley Lee and Minnie Faye Taylor. Bill passed away on October 25, 2016 in Monroe after an extended illness. Bill served in the US Navy at the end of WW2 and re-enlisted in the US Air Force in 1951. He served in the Korean conflict and through the Cold War era. In 1968 he transferred to the US Army as a helicopter pilot and served one year in Vietnam as a combat pilot earning numerous medals including four air medals, a bronze star, a silver star and a Purple Heart. After retirement, he went to work for Bell Helicopter and then the Department of Army. He retired from all of his vocations in 1996 and returned to his hometown of Monroe and was active at Lee Park Baptist church as a deacon. He also was active in the Civitan Club and the American Legion. He is survived by Marie, his wonderful wife of 67 years and his sons Michael and Richard, as well as his brother J.T. Taylor and his sister Dean Whitley. Bill is also survived by 5 grandsons and 3 great- grandchildren.

The family will receive friends from 4:30pm until 6:00pm Saturday, October 29, 2016 at McEwen Funeral Home of Monroe. A service to celebrate Mr. Taylor's life will follow at 6:00pm in McEwen Funeral Home's Colonial Chapel. Interment will follow at a later date in Arlington National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be given to the American Heart Association, 4217 Park Place Ct., Glen Allen, VA 23060-9979, or the American Red Cross, 608 E Franklin St, Monroe, NC 28112 or Lee Park Baptist Church, 2505 Morgan Mill Rd, Monroe, NC 28110. Online condolences may be offered by visiting www.mcewenmonroechapel.com