Franklin Ray Taylor (89), a longtime resident of Millersville, MD, passed away quietly in his sleep at his home in Millersville early Saturday evening, after a long period of declining health. Frank was born in Winchester, VA, the youngest of 8 children of John William Taylor and Alice Cain Taylor. Frank enjoyed a carefree and rambunctious childhood in his beloved hometown Winchester, VA. He graduated from Handley High School in 1946, where he excelled in all sports but especially in Football and Track and Field. He was the Virginia State Champion Discus Thrower in 1945, and was inducted into the Hunter Maddex Hall of Fame in 1989. It was at Handley that he caught the eye of his spunky future bride, Barbara Harwell. His athletic talents were widely noted and he was recruited by Coach Bear Bryant to play for the University of Kentucky. However, his heart was in Virginia and he elected to attend Virginia Polytechnical Institute (Now Virginia Tech), Class of 1950. He had the privilege to play football as a Hokie, and was a member of Tech's first team to play in a post-season bowl game, the 1947 Sun Bowl in El Paso, Texas. Upon graduation, he married his sweetheart, Barbara, and was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the US Army. After a brief stint in the Army, he began his long career in Federal Civil Service. As a Special Agent in the FBI, Frank was personally commended by J. Edgar Hoover for his actions in support of the capture and arrest of Joseph Corbett, the notorious kidnapper and murderer of Adolph Coors III. He enjoyed regaling friends and family with tales from his 8 years as a Special Agent. Following his tenure at the FBI, he went to work for the National Security Agency. He never did tell anyone what he did there. After his retirement from NSA, he worked as an investigator for the US Department of State. His love of history, especially Civil War history, began in childhood as he grew up exploring battlefields in his own backyard. The seed for collecting relics of history was likely planted there and grew as he became an avid collector and antique dealer. He appreciated the history and artistry in the items he collected and had a vivid imagination of the human stories behind each creation. He will be remembered for his corny jokes, scholarly interests, big smile and love for his family. He was happiest when surrounded by his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Frank is survived by his wife, Barbara H. Taylor (nee Harwell) of Millersville, MD; five children, Ellen Stream (Rick) of Kirkwood, MO, Franklin R. Taylor, Jr. (Amy) of Tequesta, FL, Linda Turner (Capt. Edmund) of Orange Park, FL, John W. Taylor (Laurie) of Millersville, MD, and Malcolm "Mick" Taylor (Angela) of Severna Park, MD; 14 grandchildren; 7 great grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews. Frank was preceded in death by his parents and siblings- brothers John, Bob, Bill and Stewart, his sisters Margaret, Alice and Dorothy, and by his beloved granddaughters Katie and Mary. May he Rest In Peace and rejoin them in the arms of Jesus. A Memorial Mass will be celebrated on Wednesday, August 16, 2017 at 2 pm in Our Lady of the Fields Roman Catholic Church, 1070 Cecil Ave, Millersville, MD 21108. Interment will be private. In lieu of flowers, a donation may be made to Hospice of the Chesapeake, John & Cathy Belcher Campus, 90 Ritchie Highway, Pasadena 21122.