Kenneth Lester Young

Kenneth Lester "Red" Young of Greenville, SC went home to be with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on January 10, 2018.  He was born in Gratton (Tazewell) VA on November 15, 1940.  He was the son of the late Ralph Wesley and Mabel Lester Young.

Survivors are his wife of 55 years, Mary Patricia (Pat) Brady Young, daughters Patricia (Dennis) Waldrop of Fountain Inn, SC and Susan Jane (Kevin) Mullen of Greenville, SC, and son Timothy Michael Young of Columbia, SC, granddaughters Ashley Lynn (Jake) Hartman of Alamogordo, NM and Adrienne Leigh Sanders of Simpsonville, SC, brother, Jackie Eugene (Lelia) Young of Richmond VA, half-sister Carolyn Lee of Wytheville, VA, half-brother Ronald (Laura) Washington, D.C. and step-sister, Lois (Jack) O'Quinn of Surfside Beach, SC  He was preceded in death by brother, Herbert Young and a half-brother James (Helen) Young and two half-sisters, Mae (Paul) Linkous and Peggy (Francis) Story.

Ken graduated from Tazewell High School in 1959.  He joined the United States Air Force immediately upon graduation and was sent to Lackland AFB, Amarillo, TX for basic training.  From there he went to chef school at Ft. Lee, VA and then his orders were to report to Gander, Newfoundland as a cook for the next 16 months.  Next assignment was Miles City, MT where he remained until his discharge in 1964.  Ken worked in various manufacturing plants in Ohio before moving to SC where he continued working in various factories until he retired from maintenance supervision in 2001.

Ken met his wife, Pat, who was from Miles City, MT when he was stationed at the 902nd Air Force Base in Miles City in 1961.  They were married in Bristol, TN on October 11, 1962.  When he was honorably discharged from the Air Force in 1964, they moved to the Cleveland, OH area seeking employment.

Ken was an avid gardener his whole life, having a large garden.  He enjoyed growing tomatoes, peppers and corn, and really enjoyed sharing the fruits of his labor.
He also loved playing his harmonicas! He picked up the knack as a child and used it as a relaxation technique all his life.  He mostly played for his personal enjoyment, but he did enjoy playing for groups and in church, especially for the annual Christmas carol sing.
Pat and Ken joined Mount Calvary Baptist Church in 1977 and have been members there ever since.  Ken was involved in the financial aspect of MCBC for 35 years.  He served keeping track of the donations made and counting the weekly offerings.

Services to remember and honor Ken’s life will be at 1:30 P.M. on Saturday, January 13, 2017 at the Mount Calvary Baptist Church in Greenville. A gathering of Ken’s family and friends for a time of reflection will be from 12:30 until 1:30 in the Fireplace Room at the Church. Rite of Military Honors, Committal and Interment will follow the services at Graceland Cemetery - East on Woodruff Road in Simpsonville.