John spent most of his early childhood riding his bike to the Stevens Creek reservoir, and around the orchard-filled lands of Cupertino and San Jose. John enlisted in the Merchant Marines at the age of 16, and upon turning 18 was drafted into the US Army, and was deployed to Korea during World War 2.
John met his wife Norma Madeline in May 1947 at Alum Rock Park. John was riding in a car with his friends, and Norma was driving in a car with her friends. John looked over and said “wow, that is the gal for me!”. John and Norma took pictures that fortuitous day at the park, and a few days later John asked Norma if he could show her the photos he had taken of their casual, yet memorable beginning. Norma said yes, and the two were married November 20, 1948 at the Cathedral Basilica of St. Joseph in San Jose, and spent their honeymoon at the Grand Canyon. In 1959 they were blessed with a son, John Young, and raised him in Los Gatos. John and Norma were happily married for 71 years.
After returning from the war, John worked as a linesmen for Pacific Bell Telephone Company, and eventually became a manager. He contributed to the generation of men and woman who replaced the magneto wall set hand crank telephones to the modernized rotary dial telephone.
John retired May 23,1988, and for 47 years pursued his passion for maintaining one of Silicon Valley’s last family owned orchards. John would spend most of his retired life pruning the apricot and persimmon trees, while plowing the rich, fertile land in his 1926 Caterpillar tractor. John shared his love of the orchard with family and friends, and would often share his yield with the community. Many summers blessed the Young family with lots of fresh fruit, as the apricots dried in the vintage wooden trays.
John was very close to his two grandchildren and four great grandchildren, and always enjoyed spending time with them. John and Norma also enjoyed fishing, hunting, and camping in Blue Lakes, and loved their many gambling trips to Las Vegas. John and Norma would celebrate the spirit of Christmas by volunteering their time in downtown San Jose at Christmas In The Park, assisting as Santa’s little helpers.
John will always be loved and remembered for being a humble, respectful, kind man, who kept the spirit of Silicon Valley’s timeless historic memories alive. John passed away peacefully at the age of 92 on May 28, 2020 in Los Gatos. He will always be loved and dearly missed by all of his family and friends
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