James Young

He is survived by his wife, Mildred Young, children, Rosalind Hinton, Gregory Young and Phillip Young, sisters, Willa Scott, Edna Jackson, Daisy Lafalaise, Jane Hamilton, and Ethel Mae Watts, 2 grandchildren, Dana Prentiss and Morgan Hora and 3 great-grandchildren, Cameron Hora, Beckett Prentiss and Zoe Prentiss. He was preceded in death by his mother Edna Watts and brothers, John Watts, Jeff Watts, Luther Watts and Lewis Watts Jr.

The oldest of Edna’s 10 children, Fred was born in Hulls Alabama in 1930 and spent his early years there on the farm with his beloved grandparents, Daisy and Dodson Hardin. Fred attended Hale County Public Schools and Industrial High School. Although he grew up in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, Fred spent most of his adult life in New York and graduated from Brooklyn Tech. He married Mildred in 1957 and they welcomed 3 children into their home. His children remember him as a loving, hard-working, proud, no-nonsense, and kind man who always took care of his family. He was a strong person, who never complained or offered excuses. He was passionate about his family and dedicated to providing the best for them.

Fred was accomplished at driving which was an integral part of his work life. At one point, he even opened his own driving school on Long Island, New York. Fred worked 8 years for the US Postal Service and 20 years with the New York Transit Authority from which he retired.

Fred served his country in the Army for 2 years and was a Korean War veteran. He received 2 bronze medals for his service.

A visitation will be held at 10:30 am with a rosary at 11:30 am, Wednesday, December 20, 2017 at Thompson Funeral Chapel, 926 S. Litchfield Road, Goodyear, AZ. A funeral service will be held at 1:00 pm, Wednesday, December 20, 2017 at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church, 13720 W Thomas Rd, Avondale, AZ 85392. Burial will take place at 10:30 am, Thursday, December 21, 2017 at the National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona, 23029 N Cave Creek Rd, Phoenix, AZ 85024.