William (Bill) W. Young

Bill Young passed away peacefully at his home surrounded by his family on March 19, 2024. He was 97 years old and lived life to the fullest. He was preceded in death by his mother and father, his brother Gail Young, his sister Laurel Dillon and son-in-law, Don Critcher.

He was born in 1926 in Morgan Park outside of Duluth, MN, the son of Erma and Glenn Young. He proudly served during WWII in the 82nd Airborne division of the US Army.

After he was discharged from the Army, Bill graduated from Florida State University (where he met and married Ruth, his blue-eyed beauty), and then began his professional career with the Boy Scouts of America. He worked in Scouting throughout the southeast for the next 40 years plus continued years of volunteering. Passionate about his NC community, Bill was involved on the Parks and Recreation board, American Red Cross Disaster Relief, Rotary International, the Friendship Force, Salvation Army and Aldersgate United Methodist church. He was a lifelong athlete and participated in and promoted the Cleveland County and National Senior Games Association.

In his last years he resided in western NC with his wife. He was a proud and loving husband, father, brother, son, grandfather and friend. He is survived by Ruth, the love of his life of 73 years, his sister Carol Whitmer, his son Bruce Young (Jan), his daughters Marilynn Patterson (Scott), Beth Critcher and Nancy Satterfield (Phil), as well as 6 grandchildren: Justin, Luke, Ashley, Michael, Phillip, Erin and 4 great-grandchildren: Kya, Kian, Danny and Molly. His was a life well-lived and well loved.

The family will have a private ceremony to honor Bill's life and a celebration of life service in Shelby at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, Bill wanted donations made in his honor to the Piedmont Council of the Boy Scouts of America PO Box 1059, Gastonia NC 28053; Rotary Club of Shelby PO Box 2861, Shelby NC 28151; or the Neal Senior Center c/o Cleveland County Senior Games 100 TR Harris Dr, Shelby NC 28150.

Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.hamptonfuneralnc.com

Hampton Funeral and Cremation Service is in charge of the arrangements.