Robert A Young

Colonel Robert A. “Bob” Young went to be with the Lord on August 29, 2018. He was born in Sandusky, Ohio on May 23, 1933 to Francis and Florence (Weber) Young. As a child, he moved to Erie, PA with his mother and his four siblings, Dick Young, Margaret Dunn, Mary Weiser and Paul Young.

Bob graduated in 1956 from Gannon University and received an ROTC commission in the US Army. He served on active duty with the NSA at Fort Meade, MD for two years and remained in the Army Reserves for 30 years, retiring as a full Colonel. In 1958, Bob married the love of his life, Julie (Kearns), also from Erie. They moved to the Washington, D.C. area, where they started a family while Bob worked at UNIVAC as a pioneer in the fledgling computer industry and completed graduate school at American University.

In 1962, he was recruited by the Department of State, serving as Foreign Service Officer for 14 years in Washington, DC. Bob and his family spent nine years abroad in the diplomatic corps, first in Bangkok, Thailand and then in Mexico City, Mexico where he started the first US Government Data Processing Centers for S.E. Asia and Latin America, respectively. He retired after 20 years with the State Department, in Poway, CA. There Bob managed the data processing center for the United States International University (USIU) and later the District Attorney’s office. Bob was also an adjunct Professor at Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok, Thailand and various universities in San Diego, CA.

Bob is survived by his loving wife Julie and their five children. He is survived by his son, Colonel (Ret) Robert (Sally) Young and children Robert (Emily), Jane (Scott) Gardner, Rebekah, Sarah Beth and John David of Augusta, GA. Son, John Eric Young of San Diego. Son, Stephen (Kelly) Young and children, Hannah, and Stephen of Morgantown, PA. Daughter, Beth Bourne and children, Elisa and Nathan of Davis, CA. Daughter Jill (Desi) Touré and children Viviane and Camille of Oakland, CA. Bob is also survived by his four siblings, as well as many nieces and nephews.

Bob was intelligent, incredibly witty, and amazingly hard-working. Bob retired for the last time in 1995. In retirement, he enjoyed many years of gardening, planting hundreds of rose bushes, which he shared with countless friends over the years. Bob was an artist in landscaping, he built and installed himself many brick walkways, arbors and casitas. Together, Bob and Julie enjoyed playing tennis. Bob was an expert Bridge player, playing in several duplicate groups with his faithful life partner, Julie. Bob and Julie traveled all over the world together. In 2009, Bob was diagnosed with Liposarcoma. He fought this horrible disease with radiation, chemo, six surgeries, and the power of prayer. His cancer was in remission since 2014. Bob ultimately died from damage to his lungs and heart from cancer treatments. He is now in the hands of Jesus with a new and healthy body. Bob will be greatly missed, but we look forward to seeing him again one day standing well and strong.

Friends and family are invited to a memorial service at Miramar National Cemetery, 5795 Nobel Drive, San Diego, CA on September 14, 2018 at 2:30 PM.