William James Young, Sr.

William James Young, Sr. of Silver Lake, Indiana passed away at home surrounded by family at 2:15 a.m. on Monday, February 14, 2022 at the age of 78.   

He was born on March 11, 1943 in Fort Wayne, Indiana to William Albert Young and Nina May (Keller) Young.  On November 20, 1965 he was married in the Catholic church at the young age of 21 to his bride, Willodean “Carol” (Rogers) Young.  They spent the next 43 years of their married life doing everything together, from raising their three children to becoming grandparents and great-grandparents.  William said his final good-bye to Carol on October 2, 2009, and now they are finally together again.  William was engaged to his beloved Mary Ann Rule for 11 years until his passing.  

William was a certified welder and worked at Fort Wayne Structural Steel for 23 years, drove semi, worked at Essex Wire in Columbia City, Indiana and the City of Warsaw Street Department.  He also ran his own small lawn mowing business.  William’s life changed forever, and he and his family were blessed with extra years added to his life, when he was the recipient of a heart transplant in 2007.  He retired following his heart transplant.    

William attended St. Robert Bellarmine Catholic Church in North Manchester, Indiana.  He had many hobbies which included singing and playing his guitar, studying the Bible, listening to gospel music, meeting up with friends for coffee, and spending time on the lake with his neighbors that became close friends.  He was always working on things in his garage and was known as the guy who could fix anything.  He was loyal, always helpful, and never knew a stranger. He enjoyed time with his family and friends and will forever be remembered as a loving husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. He will be dearly missed by all that were fortunate to have known him.

He will be lovingly remembered by his son:  William (Shannon) Young, Jr. (Goshen, Indiana); two Daughters:  Lynnette Reith (Ft. Wayne, Indiana); Jill (Jeff) Webber (Warsaw, Indiana); ten grandchildren, and ten great-grandchildren.  William leaves behind his fiancée, Mary Ann Rule (Silver Lake, Indiana); and two sisters:  Marilyn Kemerley (Fort Wayne, Indiana); Linda Lambert (Fort Wayne, Indiana).  He was preceded in death by his parents, wife Carol, and his brother, Lyle Young.

William’s life will be celebrated at 12:00 noon on Friday, February 18, 2022 at Redpath-Fruth Funeral Home, 225 Argonne Road, Warsaw, Indiana and officiated by Father Jonathan Norton.  Friends and family may visit prior to the service from 10:00 - 12:00 noon at the funeral home.  A graveside service will follow at Christian Union Cemetery in Garrett, Indiana.            

Memorial donations may be directed to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN  38105 and would be appreciated by the family.

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