Robert Andrew Taylor

Robert Andrew Taylor, of Kernersville, North Carolina passed away Thursday, September 25th, 2025, at Forsyth Medical Center after a valiant fight against a brief illness. Robert, also known affectionally as Robbie, RT, Rob, or Ratman- depending on who he was with, was born on October 25th, 1961, in Greensboro, North Carolina to loving parents Andrew Mack Taylor and Diane Stone Taylor. In 1966, Robert became a big brother to his sister, Emily Anne. From an early age, Robert loved to “tinker”- whether this meant working outside in the yard, taking apart and rebuilding small mechanical projects, or constructing something brand new, he spent his early days following his father around the house, learning many valuable skills and shaping his life-long love of working with his hands along the way. If there was an engine or construction project involved, Robert was all-in. As a young boy he stayed busy managing a paper route, mowing neighbor’s lawns or shoveling snow-filled driveways, and eventually driving the local school bus route while attending Grimsley Senior High School.

After graduating from high school, Robert went on to open and operate his own auto-body shop in Greensboro before moving to Oak Ridge, NC where he was a volunteer firefighter, and then eventually Kernersville, NC where he would trade in his Corvette convertible and change careers to support his growing family. For many years Robert worked as an independent operator for several local, long-haul trucking businesses before eventually working as a driver for Walmart. He spent tens of thousands of hours and millions of miles behind the wheel, guiding various eighteen-wheelers and their cargo to their assigned destinations safe and sound. Robert prided himself on safety behind the wheel- having never been in a single accident or been the recipient of a traffic ticket while working.

While he spent many days away at a time on the road in support of his family, Robert’s favorite place to be was his home on Salisbury Street. If you were ever looking for Robert, chances are you could find him sitting on his back deck, listening to classic rock and “rescuing a beer” (or two) from a can, floating in the pool, tinkering in the garage, or riding around the yard on his lawnmower. After purchasing the home from his maternal grandparents in 1997, Robert spent many years remodeling the home to suit his family’s needs- a project that seemed to never be fully finished as his family grew- but was an obvious labor of love. Robert loved his sprawling backyard, complete with an enormous deck and pool area he built (twice!) alongside his own father and eventually his son, Mack- who much like his father at that age, would follow Robert around the house, lending a hand in whatever project Robert happened to be working on at the time. Robert loved living close to downtown too- and being able to walk his children to church on Sunday mornings, with Main Street UMC being just down the street. Often, even if his family took a car to church, Robert would choose to walk home himself. During holiday parades or when the annual Spring Folly came to downtown Kernersville, Robert would load up his four children in their big, red wagon and make trips downtown- trips that often resulted in a visit to Harmon Park or a pit stop for ice cream.

Being the type of person who truly never met a stranger, Robert cultivated many, many friendships in his nearly 64 years. He had an incredible, infectious laugh and positive attitude in nearly all situations, and he would go out of his way to help someone in need. Robert showed his love for others more through his actions than words. His family and friends all knew all they had to do was pick up the phone, and Robert would do his best to make their various dreams and projects a reality. His beloved 1987 Ford F-350 (which Robert painted himself in his body shop) made countless trips to Lowes Hardware over the years as he remodeled bathrooms, built

porches, put together swing-sets, put in new landscaping, and even assisted in the construction of his brother in-law’s home in the Outer Banks of NC. Robert also spent hundreds of weekends hosting friends and family for cookouts, birthday parties, holidays, and other events. As they were growing up, Robert always encouraged his four children to have friends over, and made the house on Salisbury Street a fun, safe, loving environment for each and every one. While most teenagers would typically want to spend time away from home, Robert made sure Salisbury Street was a place his children and their friends knew they would be loved and cared for- resulting in there always being a few extra vehicles in the driveway and extra plates set at the dinner table. Many of his children’s friends would even call him Dad- a testament to the steadfast love and care Robert showed to everyone. As his children and their friends grew into adults and began moving into their own homes, Robert was still only a phone call away- installing gas lines, painting, building fire pits, and giving his opinion (whether asked for or not) on various projects or vehicle purchases.

One of the most important people in Robert’s life was his partner, Karen. After meeting in the 1980’s, Karen and Robert’s lives took them in different directions before eventually finding their way back to one another in the last decade of Robert’s life. Karen and Robert would also take on a final remodel of his beloved home on Salisbury Street together and spent many days enjoying the fruits of their labor by having a cup of coffee together on the back deck, sitting by the fire, and continuing to host various friends and family together. Acting as his travel partner, sounding board, and second in command- Karen was his partner for life in all aspects, loving and caring for him gallantly until the very end. Karen and Robert shared two cats together, Romeo and Snap, who were two of many animals Robert reluctantly agreed to over the years. In typical “dad” fashion and much like his own father, he never wanted more animals in his house, but was always “caught” cuddling, petting, and feeding these animals more than anyone else.

There were so many other things Robert loved, it would be hard to name them all. He loved the beach, classic cars, sweet tea (half unsweet as he got older), a medium rare steak (often made by his best friend, Tim Bartlett), a fresh biscuit, a hot cup of black coffee, a good bonfire, NASCAR races, working on project cars, indulging in his favorite holiday treats- like frying a turkey in the driveway for Thanksgiving, having sausage balls and pecan delights on Christmas, deviled eggs on Easter, and chocolate pound cake on his birthday, “resting his eyes” on a Sunday afternoon on his couch, listening to Boston or George Strait, wearing his favorite flannels, t-shirts, and jeans until they were practically threadbare, rides in his Mustang convertible, and so much more. It was truly the simple things in life Robert cared for the most.

There is a quote that reads “the grief is immeasurable, but so is the love.” Robert Taylor was preceded in death by his parents, Diane and Andy, and is survived by his loving partner, Karen Keyes of the home, his four children- Rebecca (Chad), Victoria (McRae), Olivia (Sawyer), and Mack (McKenzie), all of Kernersville, his sister, Emily Anne Taylor of Greensboro, two nephews (Will and Grayson Murphy) of Raleigh, one niece (Savannah Crew) of Chapel Hill, Karen’s family (Children Jackie and FJ, as well as siblings Richard, Mark, Jean, Bruce, and Barbara), and countless friends- Jack Williams, Leigh Cannon, “The boys”- Sam (Kaycee), Porter, & Zak, The Bartlett family, The Hartzell Family, The Gross Family, The Chrystie Family, The Sharpe Family, The Marsh Family, and his “Porch Therapy” group- just to name a few.

The family wishes to thank everyone who has offered their support during this unimaginably difficult time. A celebration of life will be held for Robert at a later date.