Chester David Taylor, Jr.

Chester
David Taylor, Jr. Brigadier General, USAF (Ret.) passed away peacefully March
20, 2019.  Preceded in death by his wife Rita and survived by brother Tom,
children David, Mark, Mary Ellen and Kathleen, four grandchildren and one great
grandchild.  He was born on May 21, 1928 in South St. Paul, Minnesota and
graduated from that high school. He attended the University of Minnesota and
graduated from its law school in 1952.  He was then commissioned as a second
lieutenant in the US Air Force. He was on active duty from 1952 to 1981. As a
young JAG officer he spent tours of duty in both Germany and the Philippine
Islands. In Germany he negotiated complex arrangements with other NATO Air
Forces.  In the Philippines his office was responsible for the legal affairs of
all American citizens living in the Islands. Upon returning to the US he
attended Indiana University and was awarded an MBA. His next duty station was
The Military Airlift Command (MAC) at Scott AFB Illinois where he oversaw the legal
intricacies of Civil Reserve Air Fleet and represented the Department of Defense
in proceedings before the Civil Aeronautics Board.

He also supervised legal support of the acquisition of Air Force space and missile
systems.  He worked for the CIA in the National Reconnaissance Office. Moving
his family across the country to California he designed and developed the ‘POW /
MIA Relief Act of 1972’, signed into legislation by Ronald Reagan

As a Brigadier General he was Staff Judge Advocate for the Air Force Systems
Command, responsible for the legal support of AF research, development and other
legal activities  worldwide. Upon retiring from the USAF in 1981 he joined the
law firm of Hogan and Hartson in Washington DC where he practiced law in government contracts. 

In 1990 Chet and Rita moved to Luray, VA where they settled into a wonderful life, contributing
to the community and making dear friends.  They were active members at Our Lady of The Valley Catholic Church where Chet became a Fourth Degree Knight of Columbus.

Chet was never happier than when he was entertaining his family and friends.  He
never knew a stranger, he loved people and life. He enjoyed his membership in
the historic Luray Supper Club and worked tirelessly to establish the first
Senior Center and Meals on Wheels in Page County, VA.   He continued to be
steadfast in preserving historic properties in his beloved town of Luray
including his home, now on the National Historic Registry; The Isaac Spittler
Homestead. As a gentleman farmer he bred the finest Siri Llamas in The
Commonwealth and had many happy years raising them. In 2011 he bought Endless
Summer Harvest, a commercial hydroponic lettuce farm in Purcellville, VA. and
established Loudoun Valley Farm.  After suffering a stroke three years ago he has been compassionately and
professionally cared for at Skyview Springs in Luray, VA

A public visitation will be held from 6 until 8 p.m. on Friday March 22, 2019 at
Bradley Funeral Home 187 E Main St, Luray, VA.  Funeral service will be held at
Our Lady of the Valley Catholic Church at 12PM on Saturday March 23, 2019.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Page One of Luray Virginia, 42 W Main
St, Luray, VA 22835 or New Century Hospice in Harrisonburg, 420 Neff Ave #110,
Harrisonburg, VA 22801.  

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Chester David Taylor, Jr., please visit our floral store.