Roy Alexander Young, Sr.

Roy Alexander Young, Sr., passed away Aug. 11, 2016, at his residence.

Mr. Young was born July 3, 1928, in San Francisco, California, and grew up in California and Washington State.

He is survived by his wife, Joann Mong Young, a life time resident of Martinsburg. They had no children.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in his death by a daughter, Kimberly Isbell, of Utah; three siblings, Helen Jones, Maxine McCormick and a brother, Earl, all of Texas.

He has a surviving half brother, Fred Raines and half sister, Carol Raines, of California. He is survived by 13 children, Rory Lee Kent, Schandos Freeman Young, Darwin Scott Young, Roy Merrick Young and Jamie Ray Young, of Texas, Christine Young, of California, Joan Crunkleton, of Ohio, Jean Schaeffer, of Pennsylvania, Lori Root, of Martinsburg, Roy Alexander Young II, of Hancock, Maryland, James Christian Young, of Fredericksburg, Virginia, and Kenneth Young, of Florida; and two step-daughters, Donna Bartley and Melynda Eaton-Mann, of Shepherdstown. In addition, he has 37 grandchildren and great- grandchildren.

He enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served as a Corpsman (Medic) during World War II in the South Pacific and is a life member of the Martinsburg VFW.

He attended the University of California and studied law under the GI Bill while working for IBM.

Mr. Young became a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in 1966 in California, In 1971 he moved to Martinsburg from Virginia and served three years as branch president and in 1977 was called as the first Bishop of Martinsburg Ward until his release in 1981.

Following WWII, he became involved in data processing technology and worked for many years for Univac, IBM and other companies in the growth of computerized applications and the implementation of business systems. As an applied science representative for IBM, he was instrumental in installing large computer systems on the West Coast. In 1969 he took a director’s position with the federal government in Washington, D.C. In 1993, he retired with 28 years of service from the U.S. Department of Education as director of Information Technology Services.

Prior to federal retirement, he joined the Berkeley County Office of Emergency Services as the (volunteer) deputy director and member of the newly formed Hazmat Team. He served in this position for 20+ years. In 2009, he retired. The county commission and West Virginia State Senate awarded certificates of appreciation for his dedicated service.

He was a member of the Baker Heights Volunteer Fire Department, and the Berkeley County Sheriff’s Department, and the Fire Investigation Team for five years. Mr. Young was a RESA VIII, CPR, First Aid, Hazmat Technician and fire services instructor for the state.

He was a member of the Martinsburg Rotary Club and in 2005 became a Paul Harris Fellow. Was a member of the Berkeley County Historical Society and in 2001, was employed part-time as safety director for Roach Energy and ROCS Convenience Stores and after 11 years, at age 83, retired.

Mr. Young was active with the Boy Scouts of America for over 50 years. He was a Boy Scout in his youth and later a scoutmaster, local district commissioner and served on the Area Council as Boy Scout program chairman. He served on the 1985 and 1989, National Jamborees as a staff member. Also, on several council and district committees, the Council Executive Board and was on the advisory board. He was awarded the District Award of Merit in 1984, The Council Statuette award in 1987, was a James E. West Fellow, and awarded the Silver Beaver in 1989, which is Scouting’s highest Council award. He had seven sons, three were in Scouting and two sons are Eagle Scouts. He was awarded the 2014 Distinguished Citizen by the Potomac District of Shenandoah Area Council, Boy Scouts of America.

Roy was a 32 degree Mason in the Pasadena Consistory, and member of the Al Malaikah Shrine in Los Angeles, California.

Services were held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 16, at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Lovelace Way in Martinsburg with Bishop John Carpenter, conducting. Military graveside services were held in Rosedale Cemetery.

Donations in memory of Roy Young may be made to the Shenandoah Area Council of the Boy Scouts of America, 107 Youth Development Court, Winchester, VA 22602 or to Hospice of the Panhandle 330 Hospice Lane, Kearneysville, WV 25430.

Mr. Young spent a long productive life in this community, which he was honored to serve. He was a devoted family man and disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Online condolences may be offered at www.BrownFuneralHomesWV.com.