Howard Eugene Taylor, Lt. Col., US Air Force (retired), of Dover, DE passed away November 20, 2025, in Columbia, S.C. Born in Russellville, KY on December 25, 1940, he was a son of the late John Henry and Willie Cassetty Taylor. Col. Taylor was a triple threat athlete, playing football, basketball, and baseball at Russellville High School. Following graduation, he accepted a football scholarship from The University of Kentucky, where he was a member of the Air Force ROTC and earned a bachelor’s degree in mathematics. Commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in the United States Air Force in 1963, following graduation, he married Judith Ann Harreld of Owensboro, KY, a marriage which continued until her death in 2015. Throughout his career, he, Judy, and their family lived in Lexington, KY, Dover, DE, Owensboro, KY Montgomery, AL, Biloxi, MS, Ft. Walton Beach, FL, Vandenberg AFB, CA, Bloomington, IN, Oklahoma City, OK and Tokyo, Japan, returning to Dover DE.
Lt. Col. Taylor military career began with pilot training in Laughlin AFB, TX. in February of 1964 from which he graduated third in his class. He next served at Dover AFB, becoming a C-133 pilot and was promoted to regular commissions of 1st Lt. and Captain. During his time at Dover, he had temporary duty assignments in France, Germany, Viet Nam, Africa, the Philippines, Spain, Jordan, Turkey, Saudia Arabia, Egypt, Thailand, Libya, Japan, Grenada, and Iceland. He flew 3100 hours and received the Air Medal with 3 devices and the Air Force Commendation Medal.
From January 1969 until January 1970 Lt. Colonel Taylor served in Vietnam, during which time he flew 730 hours and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Medal with 8 devices, as well as the Air Force Commendation medal. Returning from Viet Nam, he attended Air Traffic Control School at Kessler AFB, MS.
Assigned to Vanderberg AFB, CA, LTC. Taylor was Commander of the 2055 ATC Squadron from 1971 until 1973.
LTC Taylor was PCS to Indiana University from 1972 to 1975, earning a MBA and graduating first in his class.
From 1975 until 1976 he was with the Southern Communication Area HQ at Tinker AFB Oklahoma. There he was USAF ATC Analysis Chief for 13 states.
His following assignment was the Headquarters, 5th Air force in Yokota, Japan from 1975 until 1979 as Airspace Management Officer, working on the resolution of issues regarding Japanese and Korean airspace.
Reassigned to Dover AFB, 79-92 Chief Pilot, Operations Officer, Assistant Deputy Commander for Resources, Flew C5 A/B missions to Grenada, Kuwait, Oman, Isreal, Iraq, Canada, Cuba, Norway, Portugal, Honduras, Columbia – Retired February 1992.
Those who remain to honor his memory include his children, Howard Bradley “Brad” Taylor and his wife Kristi of Columbia, SC, and Rebecca Taylor Howerin and her husband John of Dover, DE; his granddaughters Madison Taylor and her husband John Robert, Callahan Taylor Martin and her husband Landon, Paxton Taylor and fiancé Eden, Cassetty T. Howerin, and Alexis J. Howerin and fiancé Paul; his great-grandchildren Charleston Elle Martin, Oakley Hayes Martin, Leighton Bradley Martin, and Luka Taylor; his Sister Frieda Meade of Kentucky.
Howard was committed to his family, following and supporting their participation in their many interests, activities, and athletic pursuits. An avid golfer and a regular at the Maple Dale Country Club, he scored his hole-in-one on the course at Tinker AFB. OK., witnessed by his son Brad. He and Judy loved travelling, visiting family and friends throughout the country.
The memorial service for Howard Eugene Taylor will be at 1 p.m. Saturday, January 24 at Tobert Funeral Chapel, 1145 E. Lebanon Road, Dover, Delaware, where the family will receive friends from 12:00 noon. Inurnment will be in Arlington National Cemetery. Expressions of sympathy may take the form of contributions to the USO or Wounded Warriors.
For those unable to attend the funeral service, there will be a livestream of the service at www.torbertfuneral.com. It can be found under the “Upcoming Livestreams” tab and viewed by clicking on his name.