Obituary for Ernest Young Jr.
Ernest Young Jr., 83, of Lansing, died Thursday, March 10, 2022, at home. He was born Dec. 15, 1938, in Shelby, N.C., the son of Ernest and Viola (Bryant) Young.
Ernest was a member of the Lansing Lions Club for 25 years and later transferred his membership to the Traveling Lions Club. He served as International Director of the International Association of Lions Clubs. He held many positions in the association and worked tirelessly to develop and implement programs that would enhance membership growth throughout the association. He took immense pride in the development of a Family Membership Dues Program that was widely welcomed and had an immediate and lasting effect on the association’s positive membership growth among Lions’ families. As a strong advocate for membership growth and shared encouragement to and collected input from Lions during his visits to many states throughout the United States and to India, Canada, Slovenia and China. The late international director received numerous club, district and international awards including the Ambassador Good Will Award, the highest honor granted to a member by the association.
He was also an advanced Progressive Melvin Jones Fellow based on his exemplary support of the Lion’s Club International Foundation, the President Claude M. DeVorss Fellow and a W.P Woods Fellow.
Ernest was a devoted military supporter where he served 20 years as an Army Officer, retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel after serving as an artillery officer and author/instructor at each level up to and including the Army Command and General Staff College. LTC Young also served in Korea, Germany and over two years in Vietnam. He was recognized for his service by receipt of the Meritorious Service Medal, Bronze Star Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Air Medal with numeral 3, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, Army Commendation Medal and the Parachute Badge.
Following retirement from the Army, LTC Young embarked on a second Army career as a civil service employee engaged in material development for Army units for almost 20 years before retiring a second time.
Ernest also maintained involvement in community service where he served three years on the advisory board for the University of Kansas Department of Ophthalmology and the Advisory Board of the Lansing Community Library.
He is survived by a son, Stephen of Baltimore, Md; three daughters, Natalie, Lynne and Tanya of Baltimore, Md.; ten grandchildren and eleven great-grandchildren.
Ernest was preceded in death by a son, Robert Michael; and a brother, Eugene Young.
A graveside service with military honors will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday, March 16, 2022, at Leavenworth National Cemetery.
Ernest was a member of the Lansing Lions Club for 25 years and later transferred his membership to the Traveling Lions Club. He served as International Director of the International Association of Lions Clubs. He held many positions in the association and worked tirelessly to develop and implement programs that would enhance membership growth throughout the association. He took immense pride in the development of a Family Membership Dues Program that was widely welcomed and had an immediate and lasting effect on the association’s positive membership growth among Lions’ families. As a strong advocate for membership growth and shared encouragement to and collected input from Lions during his visits to many states throughout the United States and to India, Canada, Slovenia and China. The late international director received numerous club, district and international awards including the Ambassador Good Will Award, the highest honor granted to a member by the association.
He was also an advanced Progressive Melvin Jones Fellow based on his exemplary support of the Lion’s Club International Foundation, the President Claude M. DeVorss Fellow and a W.P Woods Fellow.
Ernest was a devoted military supporter where he served 20 years as an Army Officer, retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel after serving as an artillery officer and author/instructor at each level up to and including the Army Command and General Staff College. LTC Young also served in Korea, Germany and over two years in Vietnam. He was recognized for his service by receipt of the Meritorious Service Medal, Bronze Star Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Air Medal with numeral 3, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, Army Commendation Medal and the Parachute Badge.
Following retirement from the Army, LTC Young embarked on a second Army career as a civil service employee engaged in material development for Army units for almost 20 years before retiring a second time.
Ernest also maintained involvement in community service where he served three years on the advisory board for the University of Kansas Department of Ophthalmology and the Advisory Board of the Lansing Community Library.
He is survived by a son, Stephen of Baltimore, Md; three daughters, Natalie, Lynne and Tanya of Baltimore, Md.; ten grandchildren and eleven great-grandchildren.
Ernest was preceded in death by a son, Robert Michael; and a brother, Eugene Young.
A graveside service with military honors will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday, March 16, 2022, at Leavenworth National Cemetery.