Robert P. Taylor

ROBERT P. TAYLOR JR. died Nov. 29, 2016, at the age of 92. He was born Jan. 1, 1924, in Paragould, Ark., to parents Robert P. and Bessie Hawes Taylor; he moved to Little Rock at the age of 3. He attended Little Rock public schools — Rightsell Elementary School, East Side Junior High School, and Little Rock High School (now Central High), from which he graduated in 1941. After the death of his father in 1931, Bob worked a number of jobs while attending school during the Depression years, including selling the Saturday Evening Post and Ladies Home Journal door-to-door, operating a neighborhood soda pop stand, "jerking sodas" at Webb Pharmacy at 23rd and Arch, and selling shoes and shirts at Thom McAnn and National Shirt Shop. Bob entered the University of Chicago in the fall of 1941, but returned home after one semester with the country's entry into World War II. He enrolled in and graduated from Little Rock Junior College (now UALR) in December 1942. Like so many of his generation, he put his education on hold by volunteering for and serving in the Army Air Corps during the war. He trained in Mississippi, Iowa, Louisiana and Texas and served as navigator on B-17s patrolling the Gulf of Mexico. The war ended shortly before Bob and his crew were to ship out to the Pacific theater. He left the service as a second lieutenant in October 1945. After the war Bob attended the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville, where he earned his BS and MS degrees. While at the University, he was active in campus affairs including membership in Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity, where he served as president in the spring of 1947. Bob began his business career in the general insurance business with the firm that became Bird, Lange, Maris and Taylor. He moved to banking in late 1966 as a senior officer at Worthen Bank and Trust Company (now part of Bank of America). From 1972 to 1975, he served as president and chief executive officer of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Arkansas. Afterward he returned to banking, first at Worthen and then as president of Exchange Bank and Trust Company (now part of Regions Bank) in El Dorado, Ark. He concluded his business career as president and chief executive officer of FDH Bancshares, Inc. Bob was active in a number of civic and community affairs throughout his lifetime. He was president of the Regional Little Rock Chamber of Commerce and he served as a commissioner of the Little Rock Water Works for 10 years. He was president of the University of Arkansas Alumni Association from 1968-1969. He served on the board of the Arkansas Travelers baseball club. During his residence in El Dorado (1986-1990), he was active in the Chamber of Commerce and served on the El Dorado Water Commission. He also participated in the organization of, and fundraising for, the Cathedral Middle School (now the Episcopal Collegiate School) in Little Rock. Over the course of his life, Bob was an active member in the congregations of First United Methodist Church, St. Mark's Episcopal Church and Christ Episcopal Church, where he served on the vestry. Bob loved golf, baseball (both playing and watching), travel, Little Rock, North Little Rock and the state of Arkansas. He was both a Yankees and a Cardinals fan, and he made sure his children understood the meaning of a fielder's choice and how to call the Hogs at a very early age! Competitive on the golf course, he also played a mean game of ping pong and was ruthless in gin rummy. However, in addition to his family, his great love was the myriad of friends he made from elementary school to college and the Army, through his extensive travel around the state as a fledgling insurance salesman, and through his later social, professional and community associations. He was loyal and devoted to his friends. He is survived by a daughter, Marie Taylor Backer and her husband Joe, of Park City, Utah; and by a son, Robert P. Taylor, III and his wife Colleen, of Dallas, Texas. He is also survived by four grandchildren — Kristin Backer Herzog (husband Jesse) and John Backer (wife Eva), both of San Francisco, Calif.; and Caitlin Taylor of New York City and Kimberly Taylor of San Antonio, Texas — and by one great-granddaughter, Charlotte Marie Backer. In addition, he is survived by two stepdaughters, Betsy Davies (husband Richard) and Debbie Deacon (husband Rush) of North Little Rock and by their five children — Katie Riccobono of North Little Rock, and Sarah Davies of Houston, Texas, Mary Elizabeth Johnson and Grace Fleeman, both of Dallas, Texas, and Martha Jones of Little Rock. Survivors also include his nephews John Bentley and Charles Bentley of Monroe, La., Jerry Dexter Taylor of Lewisburg, W.V., Paul Ward of Little Rock, Larry Willis of Santa Rosa, Calif., Scott Willis of New Orleans, La., and Jeffrey Willis of Atlanta, Ga.; and his nieces Caroline Ward Fox of Little Rock and Lynne Willis Rivas of Gladstone, N.J. Bob was predeceased by his first wife, Marie Scott Taylor, to whom he was married from 1949 until her death in 2007, and by their daughter, Betsy Hawes Taylor. He was also predeceased by his brother, Bayard (Tony) Taylor and his sister, Lucy Taylor Bentley and by Wanda Vestal Blodgett Taylor, to whom he was married in 2008, and with whom he shared the final years of his life. Funeral arrangements are by Ruebel Funeral Home. A visitation will be held at Ruebel on Sunday, Dec. 11, 2016, from 4-6 p.m. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on Monday, Dec. 12, 2016, at Christ Episcopal Church in Little Rock. Interment at the Columbarium at St. Mark's Episcopal Church in Little Rock will follow. In lieu of flowers, please consider a memorial to Christ Episcopal Church or a favorite charity. www.ruebelfuneralhome.com.