Charles Ronald Taylor

Charlie was born in Owensboro, Kentucky on January 25, 1947 to Herman and Mary Evelyn Taylor. He attended Owensboro Catholic High School and served as a member of the U.S. Naval Support Activity in Da Nang and was stationed in Chu Lai during the Vietnam War. After returning from Vietnam, he went on to serve as a Kentucky State Trooper and also with the Jefferson County Police Department in Louisville, Kentucky until retiring in 1989. He was a graduate of Eastern Kentucky University with a master’s degree in criminology and later went on to have a second career with Orkin Pest Control. He was a lover of all things Kentucky sports and was a faithful Kentucky basketball fan, never missing a game. Charlie also loved fishing, golf and horseracing and was a member of the Elks Lodge and the Cape Fear Men’s Club in Wilmington, North Carolina.

Charlie is preceded in death by his parents, Herman and Mary Evelyn. He is survived by his fiance, Veronica Metsch of Wilmington; son, Charles (Chip) Taylor, daughter-in-law Stephanie and grandson Riley of California; son, Ronald Taylor, daughter-in-law Erin and grandchildren Levi and Carolina of Tennessee; sister, Diane Hunter and husband, James; niece Shannon Luttrell; niece Brandi Hayden, and husband Matt; and great nieces, Camille, Lily and Evie, all of Kentucky.

We know Charlie’s heaven is one that always has a front row seat open at Rupp Arena, a perfect golf game and fishing line that never gets tangled. He will forever be missed, but the memories made with him on earth will always be carried in our hearts.

A memorial service will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations in Charlie’s memory can be made to the Lower Cape Fear Hospice in Wilmington, NC or the United Service Organizations, www.uso.org.