Ret. Maj. Fred W. Young
August 14, 1927 — April 22, 2017
Ret. Maj. Fred W. Young, Jr., 89, of Fortson, GA went to be with the Lord on Saturday, April 22, 2017 at Columbus Hospice House.
A memorial service will be held 2:00 PM Saturday, April 29, 2017 at St. Luke United Methodist Church 1104 2nd Ave. Columbus, GA 31901 with Rev. Robert Beckum officiating. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service in the church at Stockwell Hall. A graveside service will be held 11:00 AM Monday, May 1, 2017 at Ft. Mitchell National Cemetery, according to McMullen Funeral Home and Crematory 3874 Gentian Blvd. Columbus, GA 31907.
Fred was born August 14, 1927 in Yonkers, NY, son of the late Agnes McGill Young and Frederick William Young, Sr. He was born just before the Great Depression began. With five siblings and no one working they barely survived on welfare and the generosity of the Salvation Army. He was raised in abject poverty. As soon as the children were able to leave the apartment and find their way back home they were required to find some kind of work to earn a little money for the family. This enabled him to develop a very strong work ethic. At age 16, he had to quit school and go to work in a factory. When he was 18, he was drafted into the Army, and he loved it from the very first day.
He rose rapidly through the ranks, passed the GED Test and then graduated from Officer Candidate School as an Infantry 2d Lt. He served in Italy, Korea and France and stateside in Louisiana, New Jersey, Washington, South Carolina, North Carolina and Georgia. While he was serving as an instructor at the Infantry School, he met and married Marian Thompson, and they were extremely happy together for more than 58 years.
After his retirement from the Army as a Major, he continued with his education, graduating from Columbus College and then earning his Master's Degree in Education from Georgia State University. Simultaneously, he worked in Civil Service at Ft. Benning, and after 21 years retired as the Installation Safety Manager. He then thoroughly enjoyed working as a substitute teacher for more than 23 years at Ft. Benning, Harris County and Muscogee County School systems. He was known as the "tennis ball man" for the thousands of tennis balls he gave to the students.
He served for many years as a member of the Salvation Army Advisory Board. This was payback for their generosity to him when he was a hungry child. He volunteered for many years with the Springer Theater, the River Center, and Callaway Gardens. He also served on the American Red Cross Board and was past President of the Kiwanis Club of East Columbus. He also thoroughly enjoyed being a longtime member of the St. Luke chancel choir.
He was a lifelong active sports participant. His favorite sports were tennis (he was a member of the first tennis team from Columbus to win a National Championship), volleyball, water skiing, golf, senior softball, sailing, fishing and in later years he thoroughly enjoyed ballroom dancing.
One of the accomplishments he was most proud of was doing battle with the IRS on behalf of all the servicemen and women. Upon his retirement from the Army, he wrote the IRS and insisted that the servicemen and women were not being treated fairly by the IRS regulation which denied military service members the right to deduct the cost of the maintenance of their work uniforms. After an initial refusal by the IRS and more correspondence between them, they agreed with Fred and changed the regulation to allow this deduction for military personnel.
He attributed his success to his strong work ethic and his lifelong love of reading.
He was a devoted husband, father and grandfather and was dearly loved by his family and his many, many friends.
Fred will most probably be remembered for his joy for living, and living life fully. He wants to give a hearty thanks to the very many people he has known who have contributed to his having a very enjoyable life.
Fred is survived by his loving wife, Marian; daughter, Carol Young Buckley (Parker) of Yellow Springs, OH; his son, Frederick William Young, III "Bill" (Anita) of Newnan, GA; his son, Mark Stephen Young of Hamilton, GA; his daughter, Laura Elizabeth Young of Columbus, GA, and three grandchildren, Adam Lucchesi, Marian Davis Young, and William Boyce Young.
In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the local Salvation Army located at 5201 Warm Springs Rd. Columbus, GA 31909. Fred believed the Salvation Army to be the greatest charity organization in the world. Check the salaries of the different charity organizations' CEOs, and you will discover that the Salvation Army officers are the lowest paid. They give to others because they want to serve God by ministering to others.
A memorial service will be held 2:00 PM Saturday, April 29, 2017 at St. Luke United Methodist Church 1104 2nd Ave. Columbus, GA 31901 with Rev. Robert Beckum officiating. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service in the church at Stockwell Hall. A graveside service will be held 11:00 AM Monday, May 1, 2017 at Ft. Mitchell National Cemetery, according to McMullen Funeral Home and Crematory 3874 Gentian Blvd. Columbus, GA 31907.
Fred was born August 14, 1927 in Yonkers, NY, son of the late Agnes McGill Young and Frederick William Young, Sr. He was born just before the Great Depression began. With five siblings and no one working they barely survived on welfare and the generosity of the Salvation Army. He was raised in abject poverty. As soon as the children were able to leave the apartment and find their way back home they were required to find some kind of work to earn a little money for the family. This enabled him to develop a very strong work ethic. At age 16, he had to quit school and go to work in a factory. When he was 18, he was drafted into the Army, and he loved it from the very first day.
He rose rapidly through the ranks, passed the GED Test and then graduated from Officer Candidate School as an Infantry 2d Lt. He served in Italy, Korea and France and stateside in Louisiana, New Jersey, Washington, South Carolina, North Carolina and Georgia. While he was serving as an instructor at the Infantry School, he met and married Marian Thompson, and they were extremely happy together for more than 58 years.
After his retirement from the Army as a Major, he continued with his education, graduating from Columbus College and then earning his Master's Degree in Education from Georgia State University. Simultaneously, he worked in Civil Service at Ft. Benning, and after 21 years retired as the Installation Safety Manager. He then thoroughly enjoyed working as a substitute teacher for more than 23 years at Ft. Benning, Harris County and Muscogee County School systems. He was known as the "tennis ball man" for the thousands of tennis balls he gave to the students.
He served for many years as a member of the Salvation Army Advisory Board. This was payback for their generosity to him when he was a hungry child. He volunteered for many years with the Springer Theater, the River Center, and Callaway Gardens. He also served on the American Red Cross Board and was past President of the Kiwanis Club of East Columbus. He also thoroughly enjoyed being a longtime member of the St. Luke chancel choir.
He was a lifelong active sports participant. His favorite sports were tennis (he was a member of the first tennis team from Columbus to win a National Championship), volleyball, water skiing, golf, senior softball, sailing, fishing and in later years he thoroughly enjoyed ballroom dancing.
One of the accomplishments he was most proud of was doing battle with the IRS on behalf of all the servicemen and women. Upon his retirement from the Army, he wrote the IRS and insisted that the servicemen and women were not being treated fairly by the IRS regulation which denied military service members the right to deduct the cost of the maintenance of their work uniforms. After an initial refusal by the IRS and more correspondence between them, they agreed with Fred and changed the regulation to allow this deduction for military personnel.
He attributed his success to his strong work ethic and his lifelong love of reading.
He was a devoted husband, father and grandfather and was dearly loved by his family and his many, many friends.
Fred will most probably be remembered for his joy for living, and living life fully. He wants to give a hearty thanks to the very many people he has known who have contributed to his having a very enjoyable life.
Fred is survived by his loving wife, Marian; daughter, Carol Young Buckley (Parker) of Yellow Springs, OH; his son, Frederick William Young, III "Bill" (Anita) of Newnan, GA; his son, Mark Stephen Young of Hamilton, GA; his daughter, Laura Elizabeth Young of Columbus, GA, and three grandchildren, Adam Lucchesi, Marian Davis Young, and William Boyce Young.
In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the local Salvation Army located at 5201 Warm Springs Rd. Columbus, GA 31909. Fred believed the Salvation Army to be the greatest charity organization in the world. Check the salaries of the different charity organizations' CEOs, and you will discover that the Salvation Army officers are the lowest paid. They give to others because they want to serve God by ministering to others.
Memorial Services
APR 29. 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM
St. Luke United Methodist ChurchTo order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Ret. Maj. Fred W. Young, please visit our flower store.