Kenneth L. Young

Kenneth L. Young, 82, passed away peacefully at his home on Seymour Lake on Aug. 29 after a long battle with Parkinson’s disease. During his last days, he was surrounded with love by family and close friends.

Ken was born in Barnsdall, Oklahoma, on Aug. 6, 1933, to Clarence and Ruby Mae Young. At the age of 6 months old his family moved to LaGrande, Oregon. He was in the Army from 1953-1956, and in 1957 he joined the Air Force. In 1956 he married his wife, Peggy Crawford, after a brief courtship. Even then he was a man of few words. He asked Peggy “what do you think about us getting married?” They were married on May 5, 1956. During their early years of marriage they were able to have Peggy’s younger siblings spend time with them, and Ken grew to love them all as if they were his own siblings.

During his military service, which included five deployments without his family: Korea, Vietnam twice, Thailand and a remote to Nome, Alaska. Ken served a total of 36 years of Federal Service involving 22 years of military service where he retired as a Senior Master Sergeant, and 14 years as a Dept. of Defense civilian. His awards include the Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal and three Air Force Commendation Medals. He was a lifetime member of the VFW, DAV and a member of the American Legion.

After retiring from Civil Service they were able to do all the things they enjoyed. They had a second home in Holden Beach, North Carolina, where they went to a lot of NASCAR races, cruises and family vacations with his daughter’s family and friends. They also spent a lot of quality time with Peggy’s family at the beach.

They had to return to Houston, Alaska, as his disease progressed and he needed to be closer to his daughter Katherine for her to help care for him. Her family came up with the fantastic idea to build them a mother-in-law house on her property at Seymour Lake. As much as he loved his house on the river, he truly loved his little house on the lake and being closer to his daughter.

Ken’s pride and joy was his daughter Katherine, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He was so proud of Devon’s accomplishments, and one of his most treasured moments was when he flew to Hawaii to watch her be the speaker at her college graduation. He was so proud at seeing his grandson “Bo” reaching his desire to become an Air Traffic Controller for the Navy and graduate first in his class. He drove from North Carolina to Florida to watch his graduation from AIC School. He loved watching the videos of Macy’s cheerleading competitions, calling her flipper, and then Lyndi who had no idea why he would shake, only that she knew she loved to play his nurse and bring him one “Yoo-hoo” after the other.

Ken didn’t have much to say on a daily basis, but when he had something to say, you bet it was going to be either extremely wise or extremely funny. He was full of words of wisdom and safety talks. He loved to assign everyone a nickname, like shikepoke, sug, turkey trot, many words, and Bocephus.

He was preceded in death by his son Kenny, mother Ruby Glover, grandmother Bertha Glover, and uncles Sam and Elmer Glover. He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Peggy Young; daughter and son-in law Katherine and David Stanberry; grandchildren David “Bo” Stanberry and wife Miranda, Devon Thomas; and great-grandchildren Macy “Turkey Trot” Van Buskirk and Lyndi Rose Thomas.

Ken was buried in a private military service on Sept. 4, 2015. A Potluck Celebration of Life will be held at the home of Shawn and Kat Brumfield (9601 W Blake Circle, Houston, Alaska) at 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 19, 2015. Family and friends are encouraged to attend.

In lieu of flowers to the family, they request that donations be made in his honor to Alaska’s Healing Hearts, P.O. Box 876061, Wasilla, AK 99687.