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WELLSBURG -- Marian Alice (Bishop) Taylor is celebrating her 104th birthday Saturday.
Born in Kingman, Maine, on Aug. 8, 1922, she comes from a family with a long history of military service. Her father, J.D. Bishop, served in World War I, and her three brothers all served during World War II: Robert (Navy, North Africa), Donald (Marines, Guadalcanal) and Alan (Marines, Okinawa.)
Taylor carried on that legacy by enlisting in the U.S. Navy Reserve on June 29, 1943. After boot camp at Hunter College and training at parachute school in New Jersey, she served as a WAVES Parachute Rigger Second Class stationed in Ottumwa, Iowa.
Her adventurous spirit continued after the war. In the early 1950s, she braved a solo drive down Route 66 from Maine to Silicon Valley, Calif., with two toddlers in tow (at the same time as Jack Kerouac). She later lived in Guantanamo Bay during the 35-year military career of her late husband, Wellsburg native Dennis Taylor -- a Navy Seabees MCPO, Vietnam War veteran and active member of American Legion Post 10.
Today, Taylor resides surrounded by her loving family. She spends her days enjoying the family dogs, watching classic movies and tuning into the History Channel.