Dr. LTC. (Chaplain) DANIEL WAYNE TAYLOR, RET
Dr. Daniel W Taylor, 70, of Simpsonville, husband of Judith Dianne Taylor, entered into the presence of Jesus on June 26, 2021.
Born on September 27, 1950, in Natchez, MS to Martha Greer Taylor and the late Herbert Meredith Taylor. Dr. Taylor was an active member at The First Baptist Church of Simpsonville and a graduate of Bob Jones University (Bachelor of Arts, Master of Arts and Master of Divinity) and Erskine College (Doctor of Ministry). He married Judith Dianne Lutz on September 13, 1975 and were married for forty-five years. In addition to his wife, he is Survived by his son, Brooke Meredith Taylor and his wife Marlena; daughter, Gretchen Taylor Pace and her husband Matt; daughter, Erin Leigh Taylor; nine grand children (Miranda, Maren, Audrey, Faith, Gabriel, Taryn, Madison, Michaela, Carleigh) his mother, Martha Greer Taylor; brother Herbert Taylor II and his wife Wanda; sister Kathy Webb and her husband David; sister Candace Ainsworth and her husband Phil; many friends, extended family and brothers and sisters in Christ. He was preceded in death by his father, Herbert Meredith Taylor.
Dr. Taylor enlisted in the United States Army as a Chaplain in 1979 and retired after 26 years of active service on November 30, 2005. He served extensively with the 82nd Airborne, Military Police, Military Intelligence, 4325 Army Combat Team and was a master parachutist with over 200 jumps. His military decorations include: a Bronze Star, three National Defense Service Medals, Armed Forces EXP Service Medal, USA Service Ribbon, Kuwait Service Ribbon, four Meritorious Service Medals, Legion of Merit, and three US Army Commendation Medals, while serving in theater conflicts in Grenada, Haiti, Honduras, Desert Shield, Desert Storm, and Iraqi Freedom.
After his retirement from the U.S. Army he served for ten years as the Senior Adult Minister at First Baptist Simpsonville. While shepherding the senior adults, he supported other church activities across all generations, such as: singing in the choir, helping with VBS, coaching soccer teams, watching babies for MOPs meetings and hosting D-Now events with the youth. He also served on the boards of the Springs Assisted Living, Upstate Senior Network, and the South Carolina Department of Aging. In addition to serving his local church, he volunteered with the McCall Hospice House, Operation Christmas Child, JAARS, mission trips to Brazil and Cuba, and coordinated the annual Veterans Day Dinner at First Baptist Simpsonville. He loved to travel with his wife and family, ride roller coasters, win at mini-golf, and spend time with his grandkids at sporting and school events, as well as hanging out around the pool.
He will be remembered as a sacrificial, caring and loving husband, father, grandfather, minister of the gospel, and friend. A visitation will be held at 5:00 PM – 6:45 PM on Thursday June 30, 2021 with a memorial service and celebration of life to follow at 7:00 PM at the First Baptist Church of Simpsonville. Reverend Brooke Taylor will officiate.
Internment will be on Tuesday July 6 at M.J. Dolly Cooper Veterans Cemetery with full military honors.
In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that donations can be made to First Baptist Simpsonville in his name to provide rocking chairs for other grieving family members at the McCall Hospice House.
