Feb 19, 2020

Warren Alvin Young

Posted Feb 19, 2020 4:46 AM

Warren Alvin Youngdied peacefully Monday, Feb. 17, 2020 in Salina, Kan., at the age of 99. Warren was born Jan. 20, 1921, in Salina to Charles Peter Young and Nellie E. (Anderson) Young.

His father, Charles, was a carpenter who built homes and commercial spaces throughout Salina and Western Kansas. The financial crash of 1929 impacted the demand for new construction, so the Young family turned their hand to farming on a 100-acre plot near Hedville. The family continued to farm successfully throughout the 1930's despite the difficulties of the Great Depression and Dust Bowl era.

Warren graduated from Bavaria High School in 1939. During his high school years he enjoyed singing, basketball, baseball, tennis and 4-H Club. In the fall of 1939, he enrolled at Kansas Wesleyan University, but dropped out after three semesters to join the war effort in California with his cousin, Royal Anderson, who was employed at Lockheed Corporation building aircraft for the U.S. Air force. After six weeks of aircraft school Warren was employed at Lockheed as a skin fitter on the P-38 Lightning fighter at the 3-G's plant in San Fernando, Calif.

On Dec. 7, 1941, the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, prompting Warren to enlist in the Army Air Corp. He reported to Merced Air Force Base on April 1, 1942. He had an interest in cadet pilot's training, but being color-blind, could not pass the pilot training test. Instead, he chose to complete his certification as an aircraft tech, where he learned engine overhaul, electrical systems, hydraulic systems, propeller drives and how to be part of an air crew.

Warren was deployed to Pearl Harbor in the spring of 1944, where he witnessed the destruction of the ships bombed in 1941. From Hawaii, his B-24 Liberator crew was ordered west to perform photo reconnaissance missions covering Johnson Island, Kwajalein, Guam, the Philippines and Okinawa. When arriving on Okinawa the fighting with the Japanese was still going on in the middle of the island around Ishikawa and the Northern end of the 80-mile long island. Warren remained on Okinawa through the surrender of Imperial Japan on Aug. 15, 1945.

After four years of military service, Warren returned to Salina in 1946 to complete his college education at Kansas Wesleyan University. During his post-war stint at KWU, he was very involved with the philharmonic choir, where he became reacquainted with Laureen Fish. Eventually they fell in love and married on Oct. 5, 1946.

The couples' first son, Royce, was born Jan. 13, 1949, the same year Warren graduated from KWU with a degree in business administration. Fresh out of college, he was employed by Sears, Roebuck and Company as a management trainee. Shortly thereafter, their second son, Lee, was born April 3, 1950. Their third son, Kevin, was born Feb. 12, 1958.

Warren worked for Sears more than thirty years, while Laureen, a registered nurse, worked as a nursing instructor at Asbury Hospital School of Nursing. He managed many departments in the Salina Sears stores, and eventually managed a territory out of Kansas City in commercial sales. In their free time, they enjoyed traveling around the United States with their three sons in their camper.

In addition to love for his family, Warren was dedicated to serving others through his strong convictions and Christian faith. He and Laureen routinely volunteered at Red Bird Mission in Kentucky, to assist people living in chronic poverty in Appalachia. The couple were very active in supporting KWU, where Warren served on the board of trustees from 1988 to 1995. As a skilled carpenter, Warren was also heavily involved with Habitat for Humanity and helped build over 26 homes in Saline County. He was an active member of First United Methodist Church in Salina and participated in multiple local charities.

Warren is survived by his children, Royce (Donna, Lee (Christine) and Kevin (Rhonda); his grandchildren, Travis, Erica, Jessica and Jilly; and his great-grandchildren, Liam, Aidan and Kaiya. He was preceded in death by his wife, Laureen.

Warren Alvin Young will be greatly missed by his family and the people whose lives he impacted. A funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 20, at First United Methodist Church in Salina, followed by a graveside service at Roselawn Memorial Park. All are welcome to attend and celebrate Warren's life. There will be a visitation from 4-8 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 19, with the family receiving friends from 4-6 p.m., at Ryan Mortuary, Salina.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to First United Methodist Church, Kansas Wesleyan University Nursing scholarships, Red Bird Mission or Habitat for Humanity, in care of Ryan Mortuary.