Dr. John Brookins Taylor

Bluefield, WV- Dr. John Brookins Taylor of Bluefield, WV, passed away at age 89 surrounded by his family on Thursday, June 30, 2016. He was born in Bluefield, WV on April 7, 1927 where he was a lifelong resident. He was the son of the late Ralph Brookins Taylor and Ellen Simpson Taylor. Dr. Taylor, better known as Doc T or Brookie, attended Greenbrier Military School. He was drafted into the U.S. Army during his freshman year at Washington and Lee University in 1945. He served with the U.S. 8th Army in Yokohama Japan. After returning home, he graduated from Washington and Lee University and then graduated medical school at The University of Virginia. He was drafted into the U.S. Air Force and served in Germany with the 8th Air Force. After returning home, he attended Vanderbilt University for his Internal Medicine internship and then The University of Virginia for his Internal Medicine residency. He began medical practice in Bluefield in 1960 where he practiced internal medicine for fifty years. Dr. Taylor had a love of flying and began Appalachian Flying Service in the 1970’s. The flying service was instrumental in training and recruiting many professional pilots in the Bluefield area. During his career he was also a certified Flight Physician. Dr. Taylor was preceded in death by his wife, Charlotte Woods Taylor. Survivors include his two sons Peter Brookins Taylor and wife Patricia Hale Taylor, David Brookins Taylor and wife Dr. Beth Ann Taylor, granddaughters Ashby Taylor Perkins and husband Zane Patrick Perkins, Virginia Taylor Mowery and husband Dr. Nathan Mowery, Kaitlin Brookins Taylor, and grandsons, John Brookins Taylor II, and Logan Brookins Taylor. Dr. Taylor is also survived by great-grandson Zane Anthony Perkins and great-granddaughter Halen Taylor Perkins. Funeral service will be held at 2:00 pm Tuesday, July 5th at Christ Episcopal Church, Bluefield, WV to celebrate the life of Dr. Taylor, with the Rev. Chad Slater officiating. Interment will follow at Monte Vista Cemetery. Pallbearers will be David Kersey, Ed Davis, Tony Gilley, Joe Grooms, John Brookins Taylor, and Logan Brookins Taylor. In lieu of flowers, the family request that memorials for victims of the recent flood disaster in West Virginia be made to Christ Episcopal Church, in Bluefield, WV, and St. Johns Episcopal Church, in Wytheville, VA. Those wishing to share memories or condolence messages with the family may do so by visiting www.MercerFuneralHome.com Mercer Funeral Home & Crematory is serving the family of Dr. John Brookins Taylor.

Dr. John Brookins Taylor

April 7, 1927 - June 30, 2016