Richland, Oregon
Robert Loyal Young, 88, of Richland died Nov. 4, 2006, at his home.
His memorial service will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday at the Church of the Nazarene, 1250 Hughes Lane. Friends are invited to join the family for a reception after the service at the Nazarene Church.
Robert L. was born on Dec. 12, 1917, at Seattle, Wash., to Loyal and Jessica Evans Young. He had an older sister, Hazel, and an older brother, who died as a child.
The family lived at Seattle and Loyal was an entrepreneur of various occupations. During the Depression, Robert L. came with his parents to Eastern Oregon where they bought and operated the Macy Mine for four years. Shortly thereafter, he moved back to Seattle and worked for five years for Boeing as a brake operator.
During World War II, he served as first lieutenant in Europe under the command of General George Patton. After the war, he returned to his work at Boeing until 1949, when he returned to Eastern Oregon and staked a mining claim. He then purchased land and began prospecting in earnest.
On April 6, 1952, Robert L. married Dale May Mitchell of Sparta at the New Bridge Nazarene Church. They had lived on the home place ever since.
Over the years, Robert L. worked as a miner, helped build the Brownlee and Oxbow dams, worked as a welder/mechanic for the farmers, ranchers and loggers of the area, and was employed by Baker Redi-Mix for a number of years as welder/mechanic/maintenance.
He loved to work in his shop, fabricating, and building and repairing all kinds of furniture and equipment parts. Whatever the need or idea, he could produce it, whether of metal or wood.
He enjoyed making things for his family, church projects, and friends. In his later years, he made and donated parts for P.E.T., a company that provides wheelchairs to paraplegics.
Robert L. loved God with a passion and endeavored to know him more daily, and to serve him faithfully. Robert L. gained his strength and wisdom from the Lord and was always quick to give God praise in all situations.
His faithful, godly example lives on in all who knew him. He and Dale had been active members of the Church of the Nazarene in Baker City for more than 38 years.
Survivors include his wife of 54 years, Dale; daughter, Sally Hufford and her husband, Del, of Libby, Mont.; son, Jeff Young, and his wife, Johanna, of Baker City; daughter, Susan Zoon, and her husband, Lawrence, of Brownsville; and eight grandchildren, Doug Hufford, Tom Hufford, Heather Kalevig, Jennifer Young, Jacinda Young, Benjamin Zoon, Nathan Zoon and Malcolm Zoon.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Loyal and Jessica Young; his sister, Hazel Parker; and an infant brother.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Church of the Nazarene or the charity of one’s choice through Tami’s Pine Valley Funeral Home, P.O. Box 543, Halfway, OR 97834.
Used with permission from: Baker City Herald, Baker City, Oregon, November 6, 2006
Transcribed by: Belva Ticknor