Charles Taylor Taft, 94, went home to be with his Lord on Sunday, December 10, 2023, surrounded by his family in Statesville, N.C. He was born to Herman and Marion Taylor Taft on February 18, 1929, in Brant, N.Y.

Chuck graduated from Cornell University with a degree in agriculture. In 1957, he purchased Turtle’s Nursery in Hamburg, N.Y., where he ran his business until he and his wife relocated to North Carolina in 2015.

He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Audrey Hoeflin Taft; his children, Linda Roundtree (Joe), John Taft (Lisa), Amy Pierce (Bob), Sheila Kester (Bruce), and Jennifer Billingsley; 13 grandchildren; and 14 great grandchildren.

He was known to everyone as a kind, faithful, and gentle soul, who loved his family and his Lord with all of his heart.

Visitation for Chuck will be held on Thursday, December 14, 2023, from 11 a.m. to 12 noon at Western Avenue Baptist Church. A celebration of his life, with U.S. Air Force military honors, will follow at 12 noon with Pastor Jeff Spry officiating.

An additional memorial service will be held in Hamburg, N.Y., at a later date.

Donations in Charles Taft’s memory may be made to PLANT WNY Foundation, PO Box 712, East Amherst, NY 14051, or https://plantwny.com/plant-wny-foundation/.

Bunch-Johnson Funeral Home is serving the family.