Dr. Rodney K. Taylor, age 91, passed away peacefully on November 11, 2018 of complications from Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma.

Rod was born in Findlay, Ohio in 1927 to Zeller and Florence Taylor. He was the youngest and last surviving sibling of Agnes Bensing, Gene Taylor, William Taylor, Mary Angus, and Robert Taylor.

Rod is a Navy veteran of World War II in the Pacific where he served aboard the USS Topeka and later aboard the Imperial Japanese cruiser Sakawa as part of Operation Crossroads at Bikini Atoll in 1946.

After the war, Rod attended Bowling Green State University and graduated from Ohio State University College of Optometry. He began practicing optometry in Genoa, Ohio before moving to Ft. Lauderdale in 1956. Rod practiced optometry in South Florida for 20 years while raising his family. As a Contact Lens Diplomate with the American Optometric Association, Dr. Taylor used his contact lens specialization to help many patients over the years.  In 1988, Rod started his practice in Pensacola and served his new community for many years.

Rod and Gloria met in Ft Lauderdale. They moved to their adopted hometown of Pensacola and lived many years in the Florida Panhandle. They had wonderful adventures over the years while traveling, playing tennis, boating, entertaining with friends, playing cards and having many dinner parties with the Pensacola Newcomer Club. He and Gloria built a fabulous life, rich with many experiences.

Rod is survived by his loving and devoted wife Gloria, his son Jeffrey Taylor (Monique), daughters Anne Taylor, and Joan Lehmann (Jay), grandchildren Gregory Taylor (Leandra), Corinne Ungaro (Matt), Patience Esterbrook (Jordan), Emily Covell, Jennifer O'Brien (Joshua) and Eric Dennis (Natalie); 6 great-grandchildren Talon and Ronan Esterbrook, Hannah, Hadley and Hudson O'Brien, and Penny Dennis; sister-in-law Kathy Benson (Edwin), nephew Kevin, and many other nieces and nephews.

The memorial service for Rod Taylor will begin at 11:00am Saturday, December 01, 2018 at Christ Episcopal Church, 18 West Wright Street, Pensacola, FL. Interment will follow at a later date at Barrancas National Cemetery, at NAS Pensacola.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the American Cancer Society P.O. Box 22478, Oklahoma City, OK 73123.