Obituary:
FAMOUS STATE BOWLER TAYLOR DIES AT 76
Published: The Charleston Daily Mail, Tuesday, January 24, 1995
Willard L. Taylor, the only West Virginia bowler to ever win a national pro title, died Sunday at Thomas Memorial Hospital of a heart attack. He was 76.
"He was probably the best bowler to ever come out of this valley," said Don Lipscomb, fellow bowler and secretary of the Kanawha Valley Bowling Association. A twist of fate led Taylor to bowling when he was in his early 20s. "He was playing basketball for South Charleston High School and injured one of his arms," Lipscomb said. The injury made it impossible for Taylor to play basketball anymore. "The doctor told him he ought to take up bowling," Lipscomb said. Taylor did, and the rest is bowling and West Virginia history.
"The first year he bowled he averaged in the 170s," Lipscomb said. The national average then was about 150. "He had a natural ability, no doubt about it," Lipscomb said. "He had natural coordination and natural athletic ability. I think he could have been good at anything."
Taylor worked as an operator at Union Carbide, but also went pro as a bowler. He was one of the original members of the Professional Bowlers Association more than 40 years ago.
In his first pro victory, in North Canton, Ohio, his prize was a 1949 Buick. "He thought that car was something else," Lipscomb said. "That was a doctor's car back then." Taylor drove that Buick 10 years, he told the Daily Mail last year. In 1952, Taylor won the American Bowling Congress masters singles championship in Milwaukee, Wis., the only West Virginian to ever do so. He did it by besting one of bowling's great names, Andy Varipapa. The "old hillbilly," as Taylor called himself, defeated Varipapa in two four-game series. Each averaged about 200, but Taylor came out on top.
Two years later, Taylor came in second in the same competition. He continued to play at top form until the early 1960s, and won the state all-event championship four times.
Then another twist of fate changed Taylor's game. He had cataract surgery on both eyes. "It messed up my bowling," Taylor said. "I lost timing and rhythm." But he kept bowling. "Most other people would have quit," Lipscomb said. Taylor's average dropped below the national average for amateurs, but he never left the game, Lipscomb said. "He stuck with it right up until this year," Lipscomb said.
Until last year, Taylor was the organizer for a squad of Kanawha Valley bowlers who would travel to Cincinnati in May for the annual Hoinke Classic. For many years, he and others would also take in the Peterson Classic in Chicago and the American Bowling Congress tournament wherever it was played.
He was inducted into the West Virginia Bowlers Hall of Fame last year, becoming one of only about 10 people in that group. "He loved the game," Lipscomb said.
Taylor, a St. Albans native, retired from Union Carbide after 40 years service. He was a member and chairman of the board of Southwest Church of God. He was a member of Carbide Retiree's Golf League, and president of the Kanawha Valley Fellowship Bowling League, and a member of the Senior Citizens Bowling League.
Surviving: wife, Jaunita Weaver Taylor; daughters, Sharon Gibson of Tulsa, Okla., Shirley Taylor of Myrtle Beach, S.C.; brothers, Ross Jr. of Teays Valley, Shelly and John, of Nitro, Ray of St. Albans, Herbert of Lakeland, Fla.; four grandchildren.
Friends may call from 6 to 9 p.m. Wednesday at Snodgrass Funeral Home, South Charleston.
Published: The Charleston Gazette, Wednesday, January 25, 1995
TAYLOR, Willard L. -- Service will be 11 a.m. Thursday at Church of God, South Charleston, with the Rev. Dave McCormick and the Rev. Bill Mattox officiating. Burial will be in Sunset Memorial Park, South Charleston.
FAMOUS STATE BOWLER TAYLOR DIES AT 76
Published: The Charleston Daily Mail, Tuesday, January 24, 1995
Willard L. Taylor, the only West Virginia bowler to ever win a national pro title, died Sunday at Thomas Memorial Hospital of a heart attack. He was 76.
"He was probably the best bowler to ever come out of this valley," said Don Lipscomb, fellow bowler and secretary of the Kanawha Valley Bowling Association. A twist of fate led Taylor to bowling when he was in his early 20s. "He was playing basketball for South Charleston High School and injured one of his arms," Lipscomb said. The injury made it impossible for Taylor to play basketball anymore. "The doctor told him he ought to take up bowling," Lipscomb said. Taylor did, and the rest is bowling and West Virginia history.
"The first year he bowled he averaged in the 170s," Lipscomb said. The national average then was about 150. "He had a natural ability, no doubt about it," Lipscomb said. "He had natural coordination and natural athletic ability. I think he could have been good at anything."
Taylor worked as an operator at Union Carbide, but also went pro as a bowler. He was one of the original members of the Professional Bowlers Association more than 40 years ago.
In his first pro victory, in North Canton, Ohio, his prize was a 1949 Buick. "He thought that car was something else," Lipscomb said. "That was a doctor's car back then." Taylor drove that Buick 10 years, he told the Daily Mail last year. In 1952, Taylor won the American Bowling Congress masters singles championship in Milwaukee, Wis., the only West Virginian to ever do so. He did it by besting one of bowling's great names, Andy Varipapa. The "old hillbilly," as Taylor called himself, defeated Varipapa in two four-game series. Each averaged about 200, but Taylor came out on top.
Two years later, Taylor came in second in the same competition. He continued to play at top form until the early 1960s, and won the state all-event championship four times.
Then another twist of fate changed Taylor's game. He had cataract surgery on both eyes. "It messed up my bowling," Taylor said. "I lost timing and rhythm." But he kept bowling. "Most other people would have quit," Lipscomb said. Taylor's average dropped below the national average for amateurs, but he never left the game, Lipscomb said. "He stuck with it right up until this year," Lipscomb said.
Until last year, Taylor was the organizer for a squad of Kanawha Valley bowlers who would travel to Cincinnati in May for the annual Hoinke Classic. For many years, he and others would also take in the Peterson Classic in Chicago and the American Bowling Congress tournament wherever it was played.
He was inducted into the West Virginia Bowlers Hall of Fame last year, becoming one of only about 10 people in that group. "He loved the game," Lipscomb said.
Taylor, a St. Albans native, retired from Union Carbide after 40 years service. He was a member and chairman of the board of Southwest Church of God. He was a member of Carbide Retiree's Golf League, and president of the Kanawha Valley Fellowship Bowling League, and a member of the Senior Citizens Bowling League.
Surviving: wife, Jaunita Weaver Taylor; daughters, Sharon Gibson of Tulsa, Okla., Shirley Taylor of Myrtle Beach, S.C.; brothers, Ross Jr. of Teays Valley, Shelly and John, of Nitro, Ray of St. Albans, Herbert of Lakeland, Fla.; four grandchildren.
Friends may call from 6 to 9 p.m. Wednesday at Snodgrass Funeral Home, South Charleston.
Published: The Charleston Gazette, Wednesday, January 25, 1995
TAYLOR, Willard L. -- Service will be 11 a.m. Thursday at Church of God, South Charleston, with the Rev. Dave McCormick and the Rev. Bill Mattox officiating. Burial will be in Sunset Memorial Park, South Charleston.
Obituary:
FAMOUS STATE BOWLER TAYLOR DIES AT 76
Published: The Charleston Daily Mail, Tuesday, January 24, 1995
Willard L. Taylor, the only West Virginia bowler to ever win a national pro title, died Sunday at Thomas Memorial Hospital of a heart attack. He was 76.
"He was probably the best bowler to ever come out of this valley," said Don Lipscomb, fellow bowler and secretary of the Kanawha Valley Bowling Association. A twist of fate led Taylor to bowling when he was in his early 20s. "He was playing basketball for South Charleston High School and injured one of his arms," Lipscomb said. The injury made it impossible for Taylor to play basketball anymore. "The doctor told him he ought to take up bowling," Lipscomb said. Taylor did, and the rest is bowling and West Virginia history.
"The first year he bowled he averaged in the 170s," Lipscomb said. The national average then was about 150. "He had a natural ability, no doubt about it," Lipscomb said. "He had natural coordination and natural athletic ability. I think he could have been good at anything."
Taylor worked as an operator at Union Carbide, but also went pro as a bowler. He was one of the original members of the Professional Bowlers Association more than 40 years ago.
In his first pro victory, in North Canton, Ohio, his prize was a 1949 Buick. "He thought that car was something else," Lipscomb said. "That was a doctor's car back then." Taylor drove that Buick 10 years, he told the Daily Mail last year. In 1952, Taylor won the American Bowling Congress masters singles championship in Milwaukee, Wis., the only West Virginian to ever do so. He did it by besting one of bowling's great names, Andy Varipapa. The "old hillbilly," as Taylor called himself, defeated Varipapa in two four-game series. Each averaged about 200, but Taylor came out on top.
Two years later, Taylor came in second in the same competition. He continued to play at top form until the early 1960s, and won the state all-event championship four times.
Then another twist of fate changed Taylor's game. He had cataract surgery on both eyes. "It messed up my bowling," Taylor said. "I lost timing and rhythm." But he kept bowling. "Most other people would have quit," Lipscomb said. Taylor's average dropped below the national average for amateurs, but he never left the game, Lipscomb said. "He stuck with it right up until this year," Lipscomb said.
Until last year, Taylor was the organizer for a squad of Kanawha Valley bowlers who would travel to Cincinnati in May for the annual Hoinke Classic. For many years, he and others would also take in the Peterson Classic in Chicago and the American Bowling Congress tournament wherever it was played.
He was inducted into the West Virginia Bowlers Hall of Fame last year, becoming one of only about 10 people in that group. "He loved the game," Lipscomb said.
Taylor, a St. Albans native, retired from Union Carbide after 40 years service. He was a member and chairman of the board of Southwest Church of God. He was a member of Carbide Retiree's Golf League, and president of the Kanawha Valley Fellowship Bowling League, and a member of the Senior Citizens Bowling League.
Surviving: wife, Jaunita Weaver Taylor; daughters, Sharon Gibson of Tulsa, Okla., Shirley Taylor of Myrtle Beach, S.C.; brothers, Ross Jr. of Teays Valley, Shelly and John, of Nitro, Ray of St. Albans, Herbert of Lakeland, Fla.; four grandchildren.
Friends may call from 6 to 9 p.m. Wednesday at Snodgrass Funeral Home, South Charleston.
Published: The Charleston Gazette, Wednesday, January 25, 1995
TAYLOR, Willard L. -- Service will be 11 a.m. Thursday at Church of God, South Charleston, with the Rev. Dave McCormick and the Rev. Bill Mattox officiating. Burial will be in Sunset Memorial Park, South Charleston.
FAMOUS STATE BOWLER TAYLOR DIES AT 76
Published: The Charleston Daily Mail, Tuesday, January 24, 1995
Willard L. Taylor, the only West Virginia bowler to ever win a national pro title, died Sunday at Thomas Memorial Hospital of a heart attack. He was 76.
"He was probably the best bowler to ever come out of this valley," said Don Lipscomb, fellow bowler and secretary of the Kanawha Valley Bowling Association. A twist of fate led Taylor to bowling when he was in his early 20s. "He was playing basketball for South Charleston High School and injured one of his arms," Lipscomb said. The injury made it impossible for Taylor to play basketball anymore. "The doctor told him he ought to take up bowling," Lipscomb said. Taylor did, and the rest is bowling and West Virginia history.
"The first year he bowled he averaged in the 170s," Lipscomb said. The national average then was about 150. "He had a natural ability, no doubt about it," Lipscomb said. "He had natural coordination and natural athletic ability. I think he could have been good at anything."
Taylor worked as an operator at Union Carbide, but also went pro as a bowler. He was one of the original members of the Professional Bowlers Association more than 40 years ago.
In his first pro victory, in North Canton, Ohio, his prize was a 1949 Buick. "He thought that car was something else," Lipscomb said. "That was a doctor's car back then." Taylor drove that Buick 10 years, he told the Daily Mail last year. In 1952, Taylor won the American Bowling Congress masters singles championship in Milwaukee, Wis., the only West Virginian to ever do so. He did it by besting one of bowling's great names, Andy Varipapa. The "old hillbilly," as Taylor called himself, defeated Varipapa in two four-game series. Each averaged about 200, but Taylor came out on top.
Two years later, Taylor came in second in the same competition. He continued to play at top form until the early 1960s, and won the state all-event championship four times.
Then another twist of fate changed Taylor's game. He had cataract surgery on both eyes. "It messed up my bowling," Taylor said. "I lost timing and rhythm." But he kept bowling. "Most other people would have quit," Lipscomb said. Taylor's average dropped below the national average for amateurs, but he never left the game, Lipscomb said. "He stuck with it right up until this year," Lipscomb said.
Until last year, Taylor was the organizer for a squad of Kanawha Valley bowlers who would travel to Cincinnati in May for the annual Hoinke Classic. For many years, he and others would also take in the Peterson Classic in Chicago and the American Bowling Congress tournament wherever it was played.
He was inducted into the West Virginia Bowlers Hall of Fame last year, becoming one of only about 10 people in that group. "He loved the game," Lipscomb said.
Taylor, a St. Albans native, retired from Union Carbide after 40 years service. He was a member and chairman of the board of Southwest Church of God. He was a member of Carbide Retiree's Golf League, and president of the Kanawha Valley Fellowship Bowling League, and a member of the Senior Citizens Bowling League.
Surviving: wife, Jaunita Weaver Taylor; daughters, Sharon Gibson of Tulsa, Okla., Shirley Taylor of Myrtle Beach, S.C.; brothers, Ross Jr. of Teays Valley, Shelly and John, of Nitro, Ray of St. Albans, Herbert of Lakeland, Fla.; four grandchildren.
Friends may call from 6 to 9 p.m. Wednesday at Snodgrass Funeral Home, South Charleston.
Published: The Charleston Gazette, Wednesday, January 25, 1995
TAYLOR, Willard L. -- Service will be 11 a.m. Thursday at Church of God, South Charleston, with the Rev. Dave McCormick and the Rev. Bill Mattox officiating. Burial will be in Sunset Memorial Park, South Charleston.
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