Boyd Taylor

Boyd Taylor was born in Wingo, Ky., Aug. 30, 1922 to Elbert and Rhoda Coltharp Taylor. His family moved to Paducah, Ky., when he was about two years old. He knew at an early age that he wanted to preach. On Dec. 31, 1938, and Jan. 1, 1939, at the age of 16, he preached his first three sermons in Berea, Ill. He graduated from Paducah Tilghman High School in 1940.

In the fall of 1940 Boyd left Kentucky with his twin brother Byron to attend Abilene Christian College. In February, 1944, he began full-time work with the church of Christ in Iowa Park, Texas, commuting from Abilene by bus each weekend until his graduation from college in May of that year.

Boyd met his wife, Geneva Campbell, during his Senior year at Abilene Christian. They married on May 26, 1946.

In 1951 he began working with Lincoln Street church of Christ, a new congregation in Wichita Falls, Texas, that was started by the 10th and Broad church of Christ.

He moved to Irving, Texas, in 1957 to work with the Eastside church of Christ until 1963 when the church of Christ in Iowa Park asked him to return. In 1967 he began preaching for the church of Christ in Petrolia, Texas, where he stayed until 1973 when he moved to Garland, Texas, to begin work as the education minister for the Austin Street church of Christ. After a few years he wanted to return to full-time preaching. In 1980, he began working with the church of Christ at Heath, Texas, where he preached until he retired in January, 2006, after Geneva passed away in late 2005.

From Junior high school through college Boyd was active in band and orchestra, playing the Baritone. French horn and violin. Something many people might not know is that Boyd was a charter member of the Irving Symphony in 1961, playing violin and also sang in the Town North Men’s Barbershop Chorus for several years. He was also a HAWK football fan!

Boyd left this world on March 19. Boyd’s parents, his sisters Bonnie Troutman and Ozell Record, brothers Burton and Byron, niece Charlotte Record and nephew Tommy Troutman and his favorite (and only) son-in-law, David Curlee proceeded him in death.

He is survived by his children, Sheryl Curlee (IPHS class of 1967) and Derl Taylor.