C. W. “Skippy” Taylor

C. W. “Skippy” Taylor passed away on April 13, 2026 after a brief illness. Skippy met his wife Joy Rabon while they were in high school.
Skip and Joy were married in June 1962. Skippy is survived by his wife Joy, daughter Kelly, son Aaron, his wife Carla and son Olin, grandsons Caleb and Tristan Taylor, granddaughters Taylor Kimpel, Savannah, Hannah, and Danielle Taylor, great grandchildren Clifton Savage, Cohen Taylor, Winston Doherty, Clay Majette and Montana Belcher as well as his sisters Lilian Smith and Doris White and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. He is also survived by his well-loved dog Cowboy. Skippy was raised on Taylor Farm in Tabb where he lived until he passed away. He worked on the family farm that provided fresh produce to local stores and worked the family oyster beds until he became the first mounted Park Ranger for Newport News Park. Later in life Skippy went to work at Newport News City Farm as the Farming and Construction Supervisor until he retired. He was a well respected and well-known farrier in the area for decades working on horses from Gloucester to Fox Hill to Smithfield. Not only was Skippy a farmer and a horseshoer, but he was also a cowboy. He competed professionally in calf roping and steer wrestling up and down the East Coast. Together Skippy and Joy founded Edgewood Farms where they boarded horses for 20 years. Later they started a smaller boarding facility Taylor Farm where they still board horses today. After Skippy stopped competing in rodeo he got into classic cars and antique tractor pulls. His pride and joy was his classic Firebird. Skip loved to be on one of his tractors bush hogging or baling hay.
Skippy loved his family and was proud of his children and grandchildren. He enjoyed the company of his brothers from another mother Dale Cupp, Joe Carter, Miles Pound, Jack Alexander and Ken Allen. He loved to travel. Joy and Skip’s trip snowmobiling in Yellowstone was his favorite and their vacation to the Calgary Stampede was his second on his list.
Skippy was preceded in death by his parents Bill and Ada Taylor, sisters Betty Montgomery and Nina Taylor. He lived a life full of family, friends, travel and adventure. Skippy was well loved and respected. He will be greatly missed.
There will be a private graveside funeral followed by a Celebration of Life for Skippy at Taylor Farm, Yorktown, VA from 12pm until 3 pm, Saturday April 25. Casual attire. In lieu of flowers please make donations to causes that Skippy supported; Versability ICF, 11830 Fishing Point Drive, Suite 215, Newport News, VA who has provided great benefit to his daughter Kelly or Australian Cattle Dog Rescue Association, PO Box 7204, Garden City, NY 11530-5729 for his love of cattle dogs.