Tribute & Message From The Family

Robert R. "Bob" Taylor,

72, passed away peacefully at his home in North Richland Hills on Sunday after a long battle with cancer. Memorial services will be held at 10:00AM Tuesday, December 27 at Laurel Land in Dallas, TX, followed by graveside services at the Dallas Ft. Worth National Cemetery. A 20 year veteran of the U.S. Military, Vietnam combat veteran and retired aerospace engineer, Bob was a loving husband, father, grandfather and friend. He will be dearly missed.
Bob was raised in the "Tri-Cities" area on the Tennessee/Virginia border, the only son of Emmitt Clay Taylor and Edna Mae McMillan. His 20-year military career began with his enlistment at age 17 in the U.S. Air Force and included service in post-war Korea and participation in the Cuban Missile Crisis. After seven years in the Air Force, Bob enlisted in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War, where he became a helicopter pilot. As a pilot, he served more than two tours in Vietnam, logging nearly 700 hours of combat flying time with 119th Assault Helicopter Co. and the 101st Airborne Division. During his time in Vietnam, he was awarded a Presidential Unit Citation, Two Meritorious Unit Citations, The Bronze Star, The Meritorious Service Medal and 13 Air Medals.
After returning from Vietnam, Bob spent six years as an Army test pilot at the Bell Helicopter plant in Hurst, TX. Following retirement from the Army, Bob worked as an engineer at Bell Helicopter, earning a BS from Dallas Baptist College in 1981. During his 23 year career at Bell, he designed systems for many of the most advanced rotary wing aircraft in the US military including the OH-58D Kiowa Warrior, the AH-1W SuperCobra, the AH-1Z Zulu, and the V-22 Osprey. He was also awarded several patents in areas ranging from night vision technology to nuclear/biological/chemical warfare defense.
After retirement from Bell, he became active in several veterans organizations including the Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association, The Veterans of Foreign Wars, The "091" Project, The National Vietnam War Museum, and The Wounded Warrior Project.
Bob is survived by his wife of 47 years, Anna Beeson Taylor, three sons, Rick, Bryan and Jayme, seven grandchildren and his Brothers in Arms from all branches of service.