Eugene Taylor

Gene Taylor, 73 years of age, of 35 Apple Road, Boones Mill, Virginia, passed away on Sunday, March 17, 2013, at Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital. Gene was born on August 11, 1939, in Danville, Virginia. He was the son of the late James Wendell Taylor and Opal Lynskey Taylor. He is survived by his wife, Patricia Hicks Taylor, of Boones Mill, VA, son, Wendell Dean Taylor, of Danville, VA, daughter, Sandra Taylor Woods, son-in-law Richard Woods, and grandchildren Taylor and Ryan Woods, all of Lorton, VA. He is also survived by his sister, Lynette Clapp of Villa Rica, Georgia, numerous cousins, and his faithful dog Simmy. Gene was a 1957 graduate of Brosville High School in Pittsylvania County, VA. He later graduated from Virginia Polytechnic and State University with a B.S. in Agricultural Education in 1961 and an M.S. in Agricultural Economics in 1968. Gene taught vocational agriculture in Accomac County from 1961-1964. After teaching he began his career with the Virginia Agricultural Extension Services and was the Assistant County Agent in Accomack and Northhampton Counties. He served as the Unit Director for the city of Chesapeake, VA from 1970 to 1977, and then on the Eastern Shore in Accomack County through the 1980s. After moving to the Campbell County Extension office in Rustburg, VA, in 1995, he retired after 27 years of service in 1991. During his time with the Extension Service, Gene was on the Board of Directors of the Soil and Water Conservation in the districts of the Eastern Shore, Virginia Dare, and Robert E. Lee, and he was active in various extension organizations. He served as Secretary, Vice President and President of the VACAA and VESA. He assisted in organizing the VA4-HA in Virginia Beach. He was the Southern Regional Director of NA4-HA. He served on several NACAA Committees and assisted in the election of three National presidents. He served as a treasurer and former member of the Franklin County Hokie Club and Smith Mountain Lake VA Tech Alumni Chapter. Services will be held at 11am on Saturday, March 23, at Conner Bowman Funeral Chapel with Dr. Stan Parris officiating. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Center for Celiac Research and Treatment at Massachusetts General Hospital, 55 Fruit Street, Boston, MA 02114 (617-726-2000) or online at www.celiaccenter.org.