Reveille sounded its drum early on Sunday morning, April 6, 2014, as another member of The Greatest Generation took flight surrounded by ten members of his loving family. Command Sergeant Major (Ret.) Rexford Vernon Young, 93, died from a brief bout with pneumonia at Lakes Regional General Hospital, Laconia where both he and the family received tender and compassionate care.
Rex was born in Ashland August 26, 1920, the fifth child of Otis George Young and Vernie Imelda Durant. After high school, he enlisted in the U.S. Army, honorably serving his country for thirty-two years. Rex served three years in the South Pacific Theater during WWII; suffered eighteen months in Korea, a traumatism he called "the worst experience of his life"; and survived two 13-month tours of duty in Viet Nam. He was proud to have acted as tour guide for Donald Rumsfeld during Rumsfeld's first trip to Viet Nam and enjoyed meeting him again on one of W.F. Buckley's National Review tours. Rex was awarded numerous ribbons but was most humbled by his three Bronze Stars, one with Valor. He was nominated for a Silver Star but said if his entire squad did not also receive a Star, then neither would he. After retiring from the military Rex worked ten years for United Virginia Bank in Newport News, VA, where he resided for thirty years. In retirement, he enjoyed golf, won big at Bingo on Friday nights, and volunteered two days a week at the Ft. Eustis eye clinic. He was politically active, working as an election official for many years and as an active supporter of numerous campaigns. He was also a committed member of VFW Post 6002 in Newport News, Virginia, and has made annual charitable contributions to the American Legion Post 15 in Ashland. His family bore witness to the sacrifices a lifetime of service requires, and they are standing, hands over their hearts, in awe and with gratitude.
Survivors include his younger sister, Beverly LaBrique, who has cared for him daily with unparalleled devotion; a son and his wife, Vernon K. and Barbara B. Young of Rindge and a daughter, Karen Young Holt of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. He also leaves behind four grandchildren: Jeremy Young and his partner, Holly, of Orlando, Florida; Jessica Young Faustina and her husband, Dan, of Pleasanton, California; Colby Young and his fiancé, Shirley Austin, of Boston, Mass. and Trevor Young and Jenna Williams, of South Weymouth, Mass. Rex has also been blessed with two great grandchildren, Connor and Jackson, both of Orlando, Florida with a third great grandchild due in June. He was predeceased by his loving wife of sixty years, Linia Virginia Duke, who now guides him to his eternal home. He was also predeceased by five sisters, all of whom he loved fiercely: Lena Mildred Walker; Lillian May Young; Madalene Landroche; Evelyn Maybelle Tilton; and Laetitia Janice Imelda Ash.
Rex will be remembered for his voracious appetite for reading, his ability to win every bridge tournament he entered, his lifelong penchant for gardening (he even grew tomatoes outside his tent in An Khe, South Vietnam), his colorful language on the golf course, his incredible popcorn with a monster in the pot, his love of the cosmos and lying on the beach while making up wild and colorful stories about what existed beyond the stars, sparking a lifelong sense of wonder in his children, his ability to boogie-woogie and waltz from dusk to dawn, and most of all, for his treasure map and lockbox full of coins and treasures planted in the backyard awaiting each grandchild's discovery, and for the mysterious appearance of a Hershey Bar Tree every time a grandchild came to visit.
Rex was born in Ashland August 26, 1920, the fifth child of Otis George Young and Vernie Imelda Durant. After high school, he enlisted in the U.S. Army, honorably serving his country for thirty-two years. Rex served three years in the South Pacific Theater during WWII; suffered eighteen months in Korea, a traumatism he called "the worst experience of his life"; and survived two 13-month tours of duty in Viet Nam. He was proud to have acted as tour guide for Donald Rumsfeld during Rumsfeld's first trip to Viet Nam and enjoyed meeting him again on one of W.F. Buckley's National Review tours. Rex was awarded numerous ribbons but was most humbled by his three Bronze Stars, one with Valor. He was nominated for a Silver Star but said if his entire squad did not also receive a Star, then neither would he. After retiring from the military Rex worked ten years for United Virginia Bank in Newport News, VA, where he resided for thirty years. In retirement, he enjoyed golf, won big at Bingo on Friday nights, and volunteered two days a week at the Ft. Eustis eye clinic. He was politically active, working as an election official for many years and as an active supporter of numerous campaigns. He was also a committed member of VFW Post 6002 in Newport News, Virginia, and has made annual charitable contributions to the American Legion Post 15 in Ashland. His family bore witness to the sacrifices a lifetime of service requires, and they are standing, hands over their hearts, in awe and with gratitude.
Survivors include his younger sister, Beverly LaBrique, who has cared for him daily with unparalleled devotion; a son and his wife, Vernon K. and Barbara B. Young of Rindge and a daughter, Karen Young Holt of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. He also leaves behind four grandchildren: Jeremy Young and his partner, Holly, of Orlando, Florida; Jessica Young Faustina and her husband, Dan, of Pleasanton, California; Colby Young and his fiancé, Shirley Austin, of Boston, Mass. and Trevor Young and Jenna Williams, of South Weymouth, Mass. Rex has also been blessed with two great grandchildren, Connor and Jackson, both of Orlando, Florida with a third great grandchild due in June. He was predeceased by his loving wife of sixty years, Linia Virginia Duke, who now guides him to his eternal home. He was also predeceased by five sisters, all of whom he loved fiercely: Lena Mildred Walker; Lillian May Young; Madalene Landroche; Evelyn Maybelle Tilton; and Laetitia Janice Imelda Ash.
Rex will be remembered for his voracious appetite for reading, his ability to win every bridge tournament he entered, his lifelong penchant for gardening (he even grew tomatoes outside his tent in An Khe, South Vietnam), his colorful language on the golf course, his incredible popcorn with a monster in the pot, his love of the cosmos and lying on the beach while making up wild and colorful stories about what existed beyond the stars, sparking a lifelong sense of wonder in his children, his ability to boogie-woogie and waltz from dusk to dawn, and most of all, for his treasure map and lockbox full of coins and treasures planted in the backyard awaiting each grandchild's discovery, and for the mysterious appearance of a Hershey Bar Tree every time a grandchild came to visit.
Reveille sounded its drum early on Sunday morning, April 6, 2014, as another member of The Greatest Generation took flight surrounded by ten members of his loving family. Command Sergeant Major (Ret.) Rexford Vernon Young, 93, died from a brief bout with pneumonia at Lakes Regional General Hospital, Laconia where both he and the family received tender and compassionate care.
Rex was born in Ashland August 26, 1920, the fifth child of Otis George Young and Vernie Imelda Durant. After high school, he enlisted in the U.S. Army, honorably serving his country for thirty-two years. Rex served three years in the South Pacific Theater during WWII; suffered eighteen months in Korea, a traumatism he called "the worst experience of his life"; and survived two 13-month tours of duty in Viet Nam. He was proud to have acted as tour guide for Donald Rumsfeld during Rumsfeld's first trip to Viet Nam and enjoyed meeting him again on one of W.F. Buckley's National Review tours. Rex was awarded numerous ribbons but was most humbled by his three Bronze Stars, one with Valor. He was nominated for a Silver Star but said if his entire squad did not also receive a Star, then neither would he. After retiring from the military Rex worked ten years for United Virginia Bank in Newport News, VA, where he resided for thirty years. In retirement, he enjoyed golf, won big at Bingo on Friday nights, and volunteered two days a week at the Ft. Eustis eye clinic. He was politically active, working as an election official for many years and as an active supporter of numerous campaigns. He was also a committed member of VFW Post 6002 in Newport News, Virginia, and has made annual charitable contributions to the American Legion Post 15 in Ashland. His family bore witness to the sacrifices a lifetime of service requires, and they are standing, hands over their hearts, in awe and with gratitude.
Survivors include his younger sister, Beverly LaBrique, who has cared for him daily with unparalleled devotion; a son and his wife, Vernon K. and Barbara B. Young of Rindge and a daughter, Karen Young Holt of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. He also leaves behind four grandchildren: Jeremy Young and his partner, Holly, of Orlando, Florida; Jessica Young Faustina and her husband, Dan, of Pleasanton, California; Colby Young and his fiancé, Shirley Austin, of Boston, Mass. and Trevor Young and Jenna Williams, of South Weymouth, Mass. Rex has also been blessed with two great grandchildren, Connor and Jackson, both of Orlando, Florida with a third great grandchild due in June. He was predeceased by his loving wife of sixty years, Linia Virginia Duke, who now guides him to his eternal home. He was also predeceased by five sisters, all of whom he loved fiercely: Lena Mildred Walker; Lillian May Young; Madalene Landroche; Evelyn Maybelle Tilton; and Laetitia Janice Imelda Ash.
Rex will be remembered for his voracious appetite for reading, his ability to win every bridge tournament he entered, his lifelong penchant for gardening (he even grew tomatoes outside his tent in An Khe, South Vietnam), his colorful language on the golf course, his incredible popcorn with a monster in the pot, his love of the cosmos and lying on the beach while making up wild and colorful stories about what existed beyond the stars, sparking a lifelong sense of wonder in his children, his ability to boogie-woogie and waltz from dusk to dawn, and most of all, for his treasure map and lockbox full of coins and treasures planted in the backyard awaiting each grandchild's discovery, and for the mysterious appearance of a Hershey Bar Tree every time a grandchild came to visit.
Rex was born in Ashland August 26, 1920, the fifth child of Otis George Young and Vernie Imelda Durant. After high school, he enlisted in the U.S. Army, honorably serving his country for thirty-two years. Rex served three years in the South Pacific Theater during WWII; suffered eighteen months in Korea, a traumatism he called "the worst experience of his life"; and survived two 13-month tours of duty in Viet Nam. He was proud to have acted as tour guide for Donald Rumsfeld during Rumsfeld's first trip to Viet Nam and enjoyed meeting him again on one of W.F. Buckley's National Review tours. Rex was awarded numerous ribbons but was most humbled by his three Bronze Stars, one with Valor. He was nominated for a Silver Star but said if his entire squad did not also receive a Star, then neither would he. After retiring from the military Rex worked ten years for United Virginia Bank in Newport News, VA, where he resided for thirty years. In retirement, he enjoyed golf, won big at Bingo on Friday nights, and volunteered two days a week at the Ft. Eustis eye clinic. He was politically active, working as an election official for many years and as an active supporter of numerous campaigns. He was also a committed member of VFW Post 6002 in Newport News, Virginia, and has made annual charitable contributions to the American Legion Post 15 in Ashland. His family bore witness to the sacrifices a lifetime of service requires, and they are standing, hands over their hearts, in awe and with gratitude.
Survivors include his younger sister, Beverly LaBrique, who has cared for him daily with unparalleled devotion; a son and his wife, Vernon K. and Barbara B. Young of Rindge and a daughter, Karen Young Holt of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. He also leaves behind four grandchildren: Jeremy Young and his partner, Holly, of Orlando, Florida; Jessica Young Faustina and her husband, Dan, of Pleasanton, California; Colby Young and his fiancé, Shirley Austin, of Boston, Mass. and Trevor Young and Jenna Williams, of South Weymouth, Mass. Rex has also been blessed with two great grandchildren, Connor and Jackson, both of Orlando, Florida with a third great grandchild due in June. He was predeceased by his loving wife of sixty years, Linia Virginia Duke, who now guides him to his eternal home. He was also predeceased by five sisters, all of whom he loved fiercely: Lena Mildred Walker; Lillian May Young; Madalene Landroche; Evelyn Maybelle Tilton; and Laetitia Janice Imelda Ash.
Rex will be remembered for his voracious appetite for reading, his ability to win every bridge tournament he entered, his lifelong penchant for gardening (he even grew tomatoes outside his tent in An Khe, South Vietnam), his colorful language on the golf course, his incredible popcorn with a monster in the pot, his love of the cosmos and lying on the beach while making up wild and colorful stories about what existed beyond the stars, sparking a lifelong sense of wonder in his children, his ability to boogie-woogie and waltz from dusk to dawn, and most of all, for his treasure map and lockbox full of coins and treasures planted in the backyard awaiting each grandchild's discovery, and for the mysterious appearance of a Hershey Bar Tree every time a grandchild came to visit.
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