Bernal Wilbur "Wib" Taylor, 71, formerly of Mifflintown, died on Jan. 29, 2015, at his residence in Daytona Beach, Fla., due to complications of MS.
Born in 1943, he was the son of the late Bernal E. and Ruth (McCachren) Taylor.
Wib spent many of his young years around the Old Port Trading Post, owned by his father and uncle. Always active in sports, he played soccer, baseball, and basketball for Tuscarora Valley High School (class of 1961) and then baseball, soccer, tennis and wrestling for Carson-Newman College, Tenn.
Wib taught a variety of high school and middle school subjects including math, computer science, and physical education in public schools in Alabama, Mifflin County and Juniata County. After retiring from the JCSD in 1996, he went on to teach at Juniata Mennonite School and later tutored students in math at his Washington Avenue home. He was also a member of the Lion's Club.
Wib is remembered as a coach, working with pee-wee soccer and coaching high school soccer, boys' basketball, girls' basketball and tennis.
His career included a Juniata girls' basketball league championship in 1986 and undefeated tennis teams in 1988 and from 1991 to 1994. Active in sports himself, he took part in many tennis tournaments in Lewistown. He was ranked as high as fourth in singles and second in doubles with his brother in the Middle States Tennis Association.
Wib's most lasting legacy is his faith in Christ. He spent the last decades of his life teaching Sunday school and serving on various boards of Cedar Grove Brethren in Christ Church, even representing the church in Messiah College's ping pong tournaments. During a teaching sabbatical, he attended the Evangelical School of Theology in Myerstown, and in the latter stages of MS, completed course- work necessary to become a Lay Pastor in the BIC church. Even when difficult for him to see and write, he daily read his Bible and journaled prayers for his family and friends. Despite his struggles with MS, he remained faithful to God and clung to the verses of Isaiah 40:28-31, setting an example for family and friends alike. With the benefit of others in mind, Wib donated his body to UCLA for MS research.
Wib is survived by Judy (Brawley), his wife of 51 years, of Daytona Beach.
Also surviving are: sons William (Natalie) Taylor, of Cleveland, Ohio, Bradley Taylor of Daytona Beach, Fla; a daughter, Staci (Chris) Baker of Morgantown, W.Va.; a brother, Wayne (Lucy), of Mifflintown; and his nine grandchildren, Benjamin, Andrew, Julia, Meghan, Kayla, Jacob, Nathaniel, Bethlyn and Karisse will miss him greatly, as will many close extended family.
A memorial service will be held at 10:30 a.m. (visitation at 9:30 a.m.) on Saturday, Feb. 14, 2015, in the sanctuary of Cedar Grove Brethren in Christ Church, Mifflintown, with a luncheon to be held at 11:30 a.m. in the fellowship hall.
In lieu of flowers, please make a donation in his name to the National MS Society or the JDRF (Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation).
Contributed by rkohler3 on 7/26/16 - Image Year: 2014
BROTHERS: Wayne Taylor visits his brother "Wib" Taylor
Contributed by rkohler3 on 8/20/10 - Image Year: 1945
BIRTHDAY PARTY: (l-r) seated: ???, Wib Taylor, Jerry Zettle, Linda Kohler
standing (l-r): John Rice, Wayne Taylor, Audrey Bashore, Gayle Meloy, ???, Glen Kepner
Contributed by ray on 11/16/16 - Image Year: 1944
SAILOR BROTHERS: Bernal (l) and Wilbur Taylor (r) with Bernal's sons, Wayne (l) and Wib (r). (Photo submitted by Wayne Taylor)
Contributed by rkohler3 on 8/13/10 - Image Year: 1945
Audrey Bashore, Wayne Taylor, Wilbur Taylor and Samuel Bashore about 1945.
(Photo supplied by Audrey Bashore Monroe.)
Contributed by letwet on 11/8/10 - Image Year: 1945
Wayne, Wib, Bernal and Ruth Taylor-April 1945
Contributed by rkohler3 on 8/27/19 - Image Year: 1951
"BROWNIE" WITH GRANDCHILDREN Brownie McCachren with some of his grandchildren on the track work crew carrier at Port Royal. (Seated on top row: Betsy Esh and Wayne Taylor; seated on bottom, Wilbur Taylor)
Contributed by rkohler3 on 9/24/12 - Image Year: 1951
1951 JUNIATA COUNTY LITTLE LEAGUE CHAMPIONS
Front Row (L - R): Bob Dowling, N. Blair Taylor, Bill Groninger, Wib Taylor, Jack Henderson, Wayne Taylor, Denny Foltz, Jim Dowling; Middle Row: Gary Dunn, Ernie Foltz, Jim Taylor, Leon Kepner, Bob Crimmel, Warren Dowling, Don Fike, Skip Kepner, Ron Gerhart;
Back Row: Coaches: Wendell "Ace" Henderson and Melvin Crimmel
Contributed by rkohler3 on 1/30/15 - Image Year: 1956
1956 VFW STATE TEENER BASEBALL CHAMPS FROM JUNIATA CO. (Front Row l-r) Max Zellers, Bill Regester, Terry Benner, Jim Smith, Herb Graybill, Don Musser; (Middle Row) Jack Henderson, Wayne Taylor, Bill Spriggle, Cloyd Pines, Wib Taylor, Dan Nace, Jim Dowling; (Back Row) Ron Harling, Dale Smith, Dennis Foltz, Larry Winey, (coaches) Bob Cameron, Wendell Henderson, Andy Kerr. Presenting the trophy to Head Coach Kerr is the organization’s state chairman.
Contributed by rkohler3 on 1/30/15 - Image Year: 2006
50th YEAR REUNION OF 1956 VFW STATE TEENER BASEBALL CHAMPS FROM JUNIATA COUNTY
(Seated l-r) Wib Taylor , Bob Cameron (coach), Terry Benner, Jim Smith, Don Musser; Jack Henderson; (Standing l-r) Wayne Taylor, Larry Winey, Darwin Nace , Ron Harling, Jim Dowling, Herb Graybill, Bill Regester.
Contributed by rkohler3 on 12/17/10 - Image Year: 1964
1964 PERRY-JUNIATA LEAGUE CHAMPIONS (Defeated Loysville in Finals) Front Row (L - R): Doug Kennedy, Charlie Kipp, Bill Koons, Mike Taylor; Middle Row: John "Duff" Taylor, Wib Taylor, Don Kinzer, Clint Bashore, Dick Rhine, Jay Kipp, Wayne Taylor; Back Row: Spence Kepner, Bill Kennedy, Skip Kepner, Ed Lewis, Jim Kennedy, Bill Osman
Contributed by rkohler3 on 12/17/10 - Image Year: 1969
1969 MIFFLIN-JUNIATA TWILIGHT LEAGUE CHAMPS - Front Row (l - r): Jay Kipp, Glen "Skip" Kepner, Don Bratton, Wayne Taylor, Ralph Gilson and Bernal "Wib" Taylor. - Back Row: Dale Smith, Jacque Erb, Ernie Walters, Bill Barton, Ed Lewis, Norm Taylor, Bill Holderman, Fred Dowling. (Photo was taken at Port Royal Fair Grounds. Grandstand is visible on the right and racing kiosk in the back.)
Contributed by rkohler3 on 8/29/16 - Image Year: 2010
TVHS FINEST - KEPNER-TAYLOR COUSINS: (l-r) Skip Kepner, Wayne Taylor, Wib Taylor and Spence Kepner.
