William"Bill" Kenneth Taylor

William (Bill) Kenneth Taylor, 80, of Statesville, passed away peacefully Monday, July 6, 2015, at the Gordon Hospice House joining his beloved son Russell together in their eternal home.  He was born in Iredell County on January 29, 1935 to the late Frank and Minnie Warren Taylor Clendenin.   Bill was a graduate of Cool Spring High School and served his country honorably in the U.S. Navy for 4 years.  He attended the Coyne Electrical School in Chicago after high school.  On November 4, 1958, he married Genoa Hayes Taylor, who survives.  They were married 58 years before his passing.  He was an electrician at the Wake Forest College campus before becoming a student there.  He was a proud graduate of Wake Forest College where he received a degree in Math in 1962. He was a member and former President of the Alpha Phi Omega Service Fraternity.  He was a computer and systems analyst for several industries in the area and region for many years including Burlington Industries and Uniglass.  In his later years, he worked in real estate and rental property. He was a member of First Baptist Church where he served as a Deacon and in many leadership roles.  He was very active in the community where he had been a member of the Kiwanis Club of Statesville, served on the board of the Cool Springs Fire Department, the board of Samaritan Counseling Center, and served on the Iredell County Board of Equalization and Review.  He helped start Iredell Christian Ministries and served on its Board for many years. He was appointed by Gov. Jim Hunt to the North Carolina Rural Electrification Authority after running as a candidate for the N.C. State Senate in 1992.  He helped start Iredell County Habitat for Humanity and served on its Board for many years. He served as a Cub Scout leader. He was an active member of the Landlord Association. He was a visionary for developing and renovating downtown Statesville. He helped in the advancement for education for those in need in the community. Bill and Genoa loved traveling throughout the world visiting many countries.  They especially loved taking cruises, having taken 16 cruises. In addition to his parents, he was also preceded in death by his step-father, Thurman Clendenin; a son, Kenneth Russell Taylor, who died February 5, 1983; and a brother, Frank Taylor Jr. Left to cherish his memory are his wife, Genoa; a brother, Barry Clendenin (Margaret) of Herndon, Va.; along with special nieces and friends, and his wife's family. Funeral services for Mr. Taylor will be held 12:00PM Friday, July 10, 2015 at First Baptist Church with Dr. Jeff Porter and Rev. Sharon Snow officiating.  The family will visit with friends in Adams Hall following the service.  A private graveside service will be conducted in Oakwood Cemetery prior to the funeral hour. Memorials may be made to the Russell Taylor Scholarship Fund, Wake Forest University, Office of University Advancement, 7227 Reynolda Station, Winston-Salem, NC 27109  or to Hospice and Palliative Care of Iredell County, 2347 Simonton Road, Statesville, NC 28625.  Online condolences may be made to the family at www.nicholsonfunerals.com . The family would like to give special thanks to the entire Hospice organization and staff for their love and support during Bill’s illness.  Nicholson Funeral Home is serving the family of Bill Taylor.