Growing-up stories were about fishing, selling frog legs, his first crystal radio set, a first job as water boy to his grandfather’s men building Darby school, and slipping the car away from his cousins for a date. He graduated from Fort Smith High School, in 1936, then, attended St. Anne’s Academy. Those days saw a road-trip north to make Count Basie’s last set. The benefits of Boys Club led Dad to be a founding director of the Sioux City, IA chapter.
Drafted in 1941, he attained Captain AUS. The 436th AAA Battalion invaded Fedala, Morocco November 10, 1942. He Campaigned through North Africa, Sicily, Italy, southern France and to Germany, finally, in 1945. A job selling and shooting dynamite took him from Joplin to Des Moines, and Marriage to Eleanor Ankeney in 1948. He expanded Midwest Culvert Co. from two to four plants. He later increased sales at Prairie City (IA) Concrete sufficient to prevent winter lay-offs. Dad lived his faith as deacon and Sunday school teacher. We honor the values he enforced and the education and freedom he provided to follow our own paths. Widowed in 1975, he married Jan Brittenham in 1982, embracing a new family.
His camera, motorcycles, travel, and the “Wednesday support group” eased the pain of out-living two good cooks. He relied on good neighbors and close cousins. He said his children were “the Light” of his life. Our friends felt him to be their second father. He is survived by his son, Kirby C. Young (Susie) of Lenexa, KS, daughter, Gail Young, of Fort Smith and Tucson, AZ; granddaughter Kellie Fraas(Matt), Karen Winter (Zach) and four great-grand children, all of Lenexa. He will be missed.
Funeral services will be held in Roebuck Chapel. On Tuesday, September 9t ,at 11 am, with interment following, in the National Cemetery. The family will greet friends at 10am in the Narthex at First United Methodist Church. Memorials may be made to the Fort Smith Boys and Girls Clubs, 4905 North O St. Fort Smith, AR 72903
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