David G. Young Sr.
Mr. David G. Young Sr., age 79 of Jonesboro, at 10:04 a.m. Sunday, December, 22, 2013 in Anna. David was a resident at the Illinois Veterans home in Anna, IL, where he enjoyed the company, food, and the staff, but always longed to be back at home with his wife Ruthanne.
David was born in Boston, Massachusetts, on May 1st, 1934, to Mr. and Mrs. John Young, and lived there for 17 years until he joined the US Navy. He served in the Navy from 1951 until 1976, and was a veteran of both the Korean War and the Vietnam Conflict. He was a decorated sailor and retired at the rank of Senior Chief Boatswain Mate. In addition to being a veteran, David served multiple duties in his career including catching porpoises to be trained for underwater retrieval, and running crash boats out of Port Hueneme California. During that time he rescued many troubled mariners off the coast of California.
In 1966, David met Ruthanne Young in Ventura, California. The following year they were married in Toledo, Illinois. David and Ruthanne were married for 46 years, and had two children. In January, 1971, while at sea in Vietnam, his first son David G. Young Jr. was born. Their second son, Steven C. Young was born in December, 1974. David loved the ocean, beaches, and beauty of Southern California. He taught his children to camp, hike, and swim in the Sespe Wilderness and nearby Pacific Beaches. The family moved from Ventura, California to Jonesboro, Illinois in 1983.
In Jonesboro, David enjoyed his own small farm where he was able to raise a couple of goats, several cows, and many much loved dogs over the years. David enjoyed the beauty of southern Illinois and all of the nature and recreation opportunities in the area.
From 1984 until 2004, David was very active in the Egyptian Council of the Boy Scouts of America. He served as the Scoutmaster of Troop 44 in Anna, Illinois for 10 years. After his time as Scoutmaster, David spent 10 years as the Chairman of the Egyptian Council Eagle Scout Board. David also served in the Ney-A-Ti Lodge #240 of the Order of the Arrow, where he was Vigil Honor recipient. David also earned the Silver Beaver Award in 2001, which is one of the highest honors that a Boy Scout Council can bestow on a member.
David was very active in the United Methodist Church in both Jonesboro and Wolf Lake. He served often as a lay leader, and assumed many other duties throughout the years. Through the church David also was a driver for the Meals on Wheels program for several years.
David was a man of integrity, wonderful husband, and dedicated father. He will be missed by his loving family, "his Scouts", and many sailors. David is survived by his wife Ruthanne, his sons David G. Young Jr. and Steven C. Young, his grandchildren James Wright, Michael Wright, and David G. Young III, and his great grandchild Brayden Wright. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews. Preceding him in death were his parents John and Mary Young, his brother George Young, and his sisters Betty Burgwin and Margaret Waterman.
Scouters and Military are welcome to attend in uniform.
Funeral services for Mr. David G. Young Sr. will be at 10:00 a.m. Friday, December 27, 2013 in the Rendleman & Hileman Funeral Home in Jonesboro. Interment will be in the Mound City National Cemetery. Military rites will be conducted by area Veteran’s and the Illinois Army National Guard Military Honors Team of Marion. Friends may call from 4 to 7:00 p.m. Thursday, December 26, 2013 at the Rendleman & Hileman Funeral Home in Jonesboro. The preferred form of remembrance would be memorials to either the David G. Young Pine Ridge Memorial Fund, or the "Resident Benefit Fund" at the Illinois Veterans Home in Anna, IL. Envelopes will be available at the Rendleman & Hileman Funeral Home in Jonesboro.
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