John Arthur Taylor

John Arthur Taylor, 91, of Wingate, NC, went home to be with the Lord after a short illness on Thursday, April 18, 2019. Mr. Taylor was born December 13, 1927, one of six children of the late Edward Eugene and Cora Preslar Taylor. He grew up in Union County and always had a passion for Christian ministry. He felt it was God’s calling that he go into education and carried that sense of duty and service throughout his life. He served in Tokyo, Japan as a military policeman after World War II, then attended Wingate Junior College and continued on to receive his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Wake Forest College. He served the people of North Carolina first as a teacher and school principal, then as the Director of Teacher Certification. He retired from that position in 1991 and passed many happy years teaching Sunday School, traveling, gardening, and spending time with family. He married Hilda Funderburk at Wingate in 1951. He and Hilda made their home in Raleigh and were blessed with three children: Eddie, Elliott, and Martha. When Hilda preceded him in death, he found love with Martha Rogers, whom he married in 1996 and whose daughters Ann and Susan he cherished as his own. He was like a second father to his sons- and daughters-in-law: Sharon, Mary, Mark, and Robert. “Poppy” had thirteen grandchildren and thirteen great-grandchildren for whom he was a generous and loving model of Christ here on Earth. Mr. Taylor was preceded in death by his brother Carroll and sister Betty and is survived by sisters Doris and Esther and brother Don and their families. He will also be remembered fondly by many other relatives and friends whom he cared for deeply. A memorial service will be officiated by the Revs. David Richardson and Frank Crump at Faulks Baptist Church, 2234 Faulks Church Rd, Marshville, NC 28103, on Saturday, April 27, 2019, with visitation at 1:00 p.m. and the service at 2:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, a memorial donation can be made to Faulks Baptist Church or a preferred charity.