William Lorin Taylor

1917 ~ 2011

A patriot extraordinaire with a vibrant love of Flag and Country.

How we are going to miss our beloved husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, uncle and friend William Lorin Taylor who passed away May 25, 2011 in Provo, Utah, due to complications from surgery.

He was born May 18, 1917 in Ogden, Utah to John Lorin and GenieveDouglas Taylor. Bill graduated from Ogden High School and worked in the Los Angeles area while living with his widowed mother. Prior to WWII Bill and his brother Jack accepted jobs on Wake Island with a large conglomerate of construction companies. On August 8, 1941 they were bombed by the Japanese who had just left their bombing of Pearl Harbor (7th in Hawaii) and by Christmas Eve they were Prisoners of War. After three and a half years in prison camps in Shanghai Bill, escaped from a moving train and was later united with the Chinese Communists who took him with them for nearly two months finally reuniting him with the American Forces. He arrived home in late July 1945.

Bill married Coral Virginia November 1945 in the Salt Lake Temple. They resided in Stockton, CA and finally Las Vegas, NV. They were blessed with 4 children, Michael, Susan, Charles & Jack, also raising Larry Davis, Virginia’s brother. They were later divorced. In Aug 1968 he married Barbara SexsmithRoberts and they were blessed with a son, Bill II. Subsequently they were sealed in the Provo Temple.

Bill was very active in the L.D.S Church serving as a Bishop and then the first Stake President of the Las Vegas North Stake. During these years he was elected Mayor of North Las Vegas 1961-1968. During these years he also operated his own Construction Company but in 1969 he and Barbara moved their operations to Maui, HI where they resided with their son Bill for 15 years.

Bill retired in 1984 making his last move to Provo, Utah. This set the stage for much service including a Church Mission to Ireland with Barbara, working at the VA Hospital in Salt Lake for 13 years each Sunday, at the Provo Temple Baptismal for 8 years along with being a Webloe Leader.

As a side activity because of his love for America and the flag he placed flag poles and flags at many of the homes in his neighborhood and other homes he felt were deserving. He was honored by the Freedom Festival in 2001 for this dedication to our Flag being called the “Flag Man.

The Boy Scouts of America presented him with the Silver Beaver Award for his work with scouts in Las Vegas, Maui and Provo; The Department of Navy awarded him the Legion of Merit with a v for Valor in a ceremony at the Marine Hotel in San Francisco for his service on Wake and as a POW in WWII; but of all the honors he received the one that was always the closest to his heart was the love and respect of the youth wherever he lived. Even the very little ones knew that there was a special candy jar just inside the front door waiting for their knock.

He is survived by his wife Barbara of Provo and children Michael, Susan(Steve) Sorenson of Orem, Jack (Thalia) of American Fork, Charles of Lake Forest, CA, Dr. Bill II of Eagle, ID; step children Dr. Philip (Joyce) Roberts of Salt Lake, Cheryl (John) Kaupalolo, Michele (Armelio) Cabatinganof Maui, HI, Wyman (Lorene) Roberts, of Colleyville, TX, his sister Helen of West Covina, CA He also has 30 grandchildren and 49 great grandchildren with #50 due.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his brothers Jack and Richard (Dick) his sister Ruth Rea and his former wife Virginia.

A memorial service will be held at the LDS Chapel 2450 North 1060 East, Provo, Utah on Wednesday June 1st at 11am with the viewing from 9:30am to 10:30am. There will be a public viewing on Tuesday night at the Walker Sanderson Funeral Home, 646 East 800 North, Orem from 7pm to 9pm.

Condolences may be sent to the family at www.walkerfamilymortuary.com