Donald Retired

Donald Owen Taylor, LCDR U. S. Navy retired, 72, of Corpus Christi, Texas passed away Wednesday, December 19, 2012. Don was a loving husband and devoted father and grandfather. He was born June 22, 1940 in Mercedes, Texas to Donald William and Owena Stone Taylor. He graduated from Muleshoe High School in 1958 and the United States Naval Academy in 1964. He also attended the Naval Post Graduate School and Texas Tech University. He was a 20 year U. S. Navy Vietnam veteran and naval aviator flying the A-4 and the A-7. He flew over 260 combat missions and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Medal with Combat "V" and the Purple Heart. He was preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by his wife of 45 years, Angelica Tijerina Taylor of Corpus Christi, Texas; two sons, John (Robin) Taylor of San Diego, California and Donald (Holly) Taylor, Jr. of Corpus Christi, Texas; his daughter, Laura Ellen Taylor and her spouse, Or Rogovin of Lewisburg, Pennsylvania; his sister, Sandra (Pat) Childers of Cody, Wyoming; five grandchildren, John Taylor, Jr., Evan Taylor, Kai Taylor, Benjamin Rogovin and Gabriella Grace Taylor; numerous nieces and nephews. Visitation will be from 9 A.M. until 11 A.M. Friday, December 21, 2012 at Sawyer-George Funeral Home Chapel. Funeral services with full military honors will be conducted at Noon, Friday, December 21, 2012 at the Coastal Bend State Veterans Cemetery. Burial will follow. In lieu of flowers, friends are asked to make contributions to the Vietnam Veterans of America, www.vva.org.