John Ashby Taylor

John Ashby Taylor passed away peacefully in hospice on January 2, 2016 after 91 1/2 wonderful years of life. He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, and a grandson. He was born on August 14, 1924 in Augusta, GA to Jack and Jessie Taylor, and attended both grammar school and high school in Augusta. He graduated from Richmond Academy in 1941 and entered the Citadel in Charleston, SC in the fall of 1941. In the spring of 1943 he left the Citadel to enlist in the U.S. Army with World War II fully underway. He landed in northern France in September, 1944 and fought across France and Germany until the war in Europe ended on May 8, 1945. For his actions in Europe he was awarded the Bronze Star and Purple Heart. Returning to the United States, Ashby entered Georgia Tech in March, 1946, graduating with a degree in Industrial Engineering in March, 1948. While at Tech he was a member of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity and Captain of the Georgia Tech golf team. In June, 1946, he married the love of his life, Martha Boatwright, also of Augusta, and settled in Atlanta. They had a wonderful marriage lasting 57 years until her death in 2003. After graduation from Tech, he went to work for Yancey Brothers Company and spent the next 42 years working for what he called the best private company in Georgia, selling the best product of its kind in the world - Caterpillar Tractors. He was a club champion at the Atlanta Athletic Club, a senior club champion at Druid Hills Golf Club, and a past member of the Decatur Rotary and Decatur Kiwanis Clubs. He spent his retirement years playing golf, loving his family, and traveling. Ashby and Martha had three children: John Ashby Taylor, Jr., wife Louise, of Monument, CO; James Boatwright Taylor, wife Elaine, of Stone Mountain, GA; Dr. Robert Alexander Taylor, wife Debbie, of Davidson, NC; six grandchildren, and four great grandchildren. The Taylor Family will host a visitation at A.S. Turner funeral home in Decatur on Friday, January 8, from 4 to 6 pm. The following day Ashby will be buried in Augusta next to his beloved wife. His sons would like to thank the medical professionals at Emory Hospital Midtown, Budd Terrace, and DeKalb Medical Center for their gracious and professional treatment of Dad. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to: Shepherd Center Foundation, Inc, 2020 Peachtree St., NW, Atlanta, GA 30309-1465. A. S. Turner and Sons Funeral Home and Crematory.

Funeral Home:
A.S. Turner
2773 N. Decatur Road
Decatur, GA
30033