Fred  Lewis Taylor was born in October 8, 1918, in Indiana  to Frank and Virginia McGlothlin Taylor. They lived there a short time and then the family moved to Monroe County near Union, West Virginia.

 

 

 

 

Fred Taylor in 1932

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fred grew up attending Monroe County Schools and  then  he graduated from Union High School in 1936.

 

 

 

 

 

Fred taken after graduation

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fred’s Union High School Diploma

 

 

 

 

 

 

E. V. Core was principal of Union High School.  Guy H. Biggs was Monroe County Superintendent and R.D. Nickell was president of the Monroe County Board of Education.   Fred had much respect for Mr. E.V. Core, his math teacher and principal.  Mr. Core suggested to Fred and another student that they come to his house to be tutored in math.   Of course, Fred went and improved his grades because when Mr. Core “suggested”something, a person did it.  Later Fred majored in math, probably due to the positive influence of Mr. Core.  Mr. Core could also write his name “EVCore” without lifting up his pen…it was written all together as one word.  Upon leaving Union High School, Mr. Core later became principal at Rupert in Greenbrier County and then a College Associate Professor at Marshall University in Huntington.

There weren’t any buses to ride to school.  When Fred was living at Salt Sulphur Springs, he would be out on Route 219 at 7:00 a.m. and he could catch a ride with one of the State Road workers.  During his last high school years, Fred lived with his Grandmother, Rosa Belle Taylor on Pump Street in Union.  That made it easier for him to walk to school.  Fred ‘s father and stepmother, Frank and Nora Weikle Taylor resided in Salt Sulphur Springs.

Mr. Starkey Shaffer was a half-time Vo-Ag teacher at Union and Gap Mills.  Students walked from the Union High School building to the basement of the former post office building to have Vo-Ag classes.  It was on the corner next to the Kalico Kitchen Restaurant.  In Monroe County, Fred won the Future Farmers of America (FFA) speech contest.  His advisor, Mr. Shaffer, took him to the regional contest at Huntington.  He didn’t win any awards at the regional contest, but the experience was worth the trip.

Fred and Jim Beckett of Pickaway were selected to go to Blacksburg, Virginia, to make a radio broadcast.  Jim drove his family’s A-Model Sedan Ford car.  Not having been out of the county very much, they were told to look for a “studio” not realizing that a studio was another name for a radio station.  They arrived as the radio announcer said “You’re on the air!”.

In the fall after college classed had begun, Fred was mowing Dr. Caldwell’s lawn in Union.  Dr. Caldwell had asked him why he was not in school.  Once again, thanks to Mr. E.V. Core’s recommendation, Dr. Caldwell loaned Fred the money to go to Concord College.  Dr. Caldwell’s sister’s husband was a professor at Concord and he helped Fred make the arrangements to start college and find a place to board, nearly a mile from the college.  Even though school had been in session a month, Fred caught up with his classmates and finished his two-year degree at Concord State Teachers College and taught school for four years in Monroe County Schools.

 

 

 

 

 

Fred Taylor  in France – 1945

 

 

 

 

 

On October 8, 1942, Fred entered the US Army at Fort Thomas, Kentucky.He served the 80^th Division Company E 319 Infantry in England and France.

 

 

 

 

Fred and Polly

Before Fred sailed for France

 

 

 

 

 

He was wounded in action on November 25, 1945, and Staff Sergeant Taylor was discharged on January 9, 1946 at Ft. George G. Meade in Maryland.  Fred earned military honors of Good Conduct, American Theatre; Efficiency Honor Fidelity, World War II; European African Middle-Eastern Campaign, Bronze Star; and two Purple Hearts.

 

 

 

 

 

Fred  Taylor in 1946

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fred and Polly Taylor

Wedding Day 1942

 

 

 

 

 

On October 10, 1942, Fred Lewis Taylor was married to Pauline “Polly” Elizabeth Honaker of Alderson.  The wedding took place in Rossville, Georgia.

 

After his military service, Fred earned his four-year teaching degree from Concord College and a  Masters Degree from Marshall University. He took a substitute position for the 1949-1950 school year at Union High School replacing Louise Massey who was on maternity leave (at that time a teacher could not teach and be pregnant).  As a new faculty member, he was given many responsibilities; teaching mathematics, science, chemistry, physical education, senior play director and yearbook advisor.

 

 

 

Fred Taylor (pictured on  back row) along with the Yearbook  Staff

 

(Click on pictures for a larger  view)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Senior Play Cast  1949-1950

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

His general mathematics classes were made up of freshmen and sophomores, he had 55 in one class and 57 in another.   At  this time Fred and Polly moved into a three-room apartment in Dr. Richardson’s  house on the corner at the four-way stop in Union.

 

 

 

 

Fred Taylor – Faculty Member at UHS

 

 

 

 

 

 

After teaching one semester at UHS, Louise Massey returned and Fred began teaching in a two-room school at Sarton.  He taught secondary students while another teacher taught elementary.  He then continued his career as a teacher and principal in Monroe County Schools.  He was principal of the Lindside Elementary school and then became principal of the Union Elementary School until his retirement in 1980.

On October 10, 2012, Fred and Pauline Taylor celebrated their 70^th  wedding anniversary.  They have four children….all graduates of Union High School;  Nancy, (married to Robert Crews) both graduates of UHS class of 1967,   Beverly, graduate of UHS class of 1969, (married to Jim Chadwell),  Fred II, graduate of UHS class of 1971 (married to Doris Ann Lemons), and Drema, graduate of  UHS class of 1975.

Fred gives credit to all of the influential people in his life.  Fred has also had a positive influence on many of his students throughout his career in education.

 

 

 

 

 

Fred Taylor (Class of 1936) at the Union High School  All-Class Reunion in 2010

 

 

 

Fred Lewis Taylor Obituary

 

UNION, WV — Fred Lewis Taylor, 101, of Union, passed away at Seasons Place Assisted Living, Lewisburg, on Sunday, December 15, 2019.  Born on October 8, 1918, at Falmouth, Indiana, he was the son of Frank Lewis and Nancy Virginia McGlothlin Taylor of Salt Sulphur Springs near Union.

Fred began his education for his first eight years at Wickline School, then four years at Union High School, graduating in 1936.   He earned a Standard Normal Teaching Certificate from Concord State Teachers College and began his teaching career at his alma mater, Union High School, for the spring semester.  From 1939-1942 he taught at Grandview’s one-room school until he enlisted in the US Army on July 8, 1942.

On October 10, 1942, he married the love of his life, Pauline “Polly” Elizabeth Honaker Taylor.  Both were together while he was in the service until he was sent overseas in 1944 to serve in the 80th Division Company E 319 Infantry in England and France.

Wounded in action on November 5, 1945, he served in the military until honorably discharged on January 9, 1946.  While in the service he earned two Purple Heart Medals, Good Conduct Medal, American Theater Ribbon, European African Middle Eastern Theater Ribbon and World War II Victory Ribbon.

After the war Fred earned a bachelor’s degree in education from Concord College and a masters from Marshall College.  His next teaching assignments were at Wise and Sarton, then Lindside Elementary and Union Elementary Schools as a math teacher and principal.  He retired in 1980 with 40 years as an educator.

Fred was a member of the St. John’s United Methodist Church serving as treasurer for fifty-five years and was a lifetime member of the American Legion.

Fred was preceded in death by his parents, infant brother Clarence B. Taylor, step-mother, Nora Ellen Weikle Taylor, and wife of 71 years, Polly Honaker Taylor, on December 27, 2013.

Survivors include his four children:  Nancy (Robert) Crews of Rock Camp, Beverly (Jim) Chadwell of Bedford, VA, Fred L. (Doris Ann) Taylor, II, of Sinks Grove, and Dreama Taylor Gautier of Pearisburg, VA. Seven grandchildren: Don (Eva) Crews, Shannon (Michael) Mayhew, Abbey (Kevin) Blankinship, Chad (Betsy) Taylor, Casey (Jason) Napier, Jarad Gautier, Tyler (Savannah) Gautier;  Nine great-grandchildren: Emily Crews, Pierce and Paisley Blankinship, Grayson and Gabrielle Taylor, Lilly, Noah, and Hallie Napier, and Elizabeth Gautier.  Sister:  Betty Sue Taylor Durham of Grafton, VA, and Brother: Frank Eugene (Bonnie) Taylor of Waldorf, MD.

Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, December 18, 2019, at 1:00 p.m. at the Groves-Mann Funeral Home Chapel in Union with Pastor Gene Fullen officiating. Visitation will be two hours prior to funeral services beginning at 11:00 a.m.  Burial will follow in Green Hill Cemetery, Union where the West Virginia Honor Guard will conduct Military Graveside Rites.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be given to the St. John’s United Methodist Church or to the Indian Creek Building Fund  c/o Jerry Fullen, 778 Fullen Road, Union, WV  24983.  Those wishing to send the family online condolences or sign the online guestbook may do so by visiting www.groves-mann.com. Arrangements by Groves-Mann Funeral Home, Union.

 

Submitted by   Doris Lemons Taylor