Ronald Edwin Young

Ronald E. Young passed away on June 14 at his home in La Grande, in his family's embrace. He was born near Ontario, Oregon on September 18, 1931 to Ed and Thelma Steinhaus Young. He had many fond memories of his early childhood living on Albertson's Island in the Snake River, and the adventures he had with his brothers Wayne and Ted.

In 1944 the family moved to the Baker Valley. He worked on Erby's Dairy for 2 years while attending Baker High School. He graduated from North Powder High School in 1949 and attended Lewis and Clark College on a football scholarship.
Ron married Carolyn Davis on January 6, 1951 at the Methodist Church in Union. This past January they celebrated their 65th Wedding anniversary.

Ron enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in February of 1951 at the height of the Korean War. He was sent to intensive Russian language school for 1 year at Syracuse University in New York, where he graduated with honors. He served the next 3 years in the U.S. Air Force Security Service in San Antonio, Texas. His work was so highly classified he never talked about it. Fifty years later, while traveling in Russia, he was still able to speak to the tour guides and the people in the parks.

While in San Antonio his son, Keith, and his daughter, Marcia were born.

Ron graduated from Oregon State College with a Bachelors degree in Ag. Education in 1957. In 1959 he obtained his masters Degree in Ag. Economics. He also studied Forestry.

Ron joined First National Bank of Oregon as a trainee in Bend before taking a position in Pendleton. Promotions came fast. He was made manager of the Nyssa branch in `1963. He was manager of banks in The Dalles, Medford and Eugene, later working in Portland at the corporate headquarters. He was promoted to Regional Vice President in charge of 36 banks in Southern Oregon. He retired as a Senior Vice President of First Interstate Bank of Oregon, which later became Wells Fargo. In each area he was very involved with community service. He served on the advisory board for the Boy Scouts, numerous budget committees, Bohemia Lumber Company Scholarship Committee, Chamber of Commerce, Kiwanis and United Way. He was on the Hospital Board in Eugene and La Grande. He was a 25 year member of the La Grande Country Club and served as President.

Ron's favorite activities were golf, packing into the mountains with his family, and working at his ranch near North Powder. He spent many happy days with Craig, Marcia and Justin catching salmon, digging clams, boating and camping in the San Juan Islands. He was a fan of Justin's soccer games, even though it was the wrong kind of football! The last 2 years he walked every day at Riverside park, or Walmart when it was bad weather, and kept his mind sharp with daily crossword puzzles.

He is survived by his wife Carolyn, daughter Marcia, son in law Craig Shaver, and his grandson and his wife Justin and Christy Shaver; his brother Ted Young and wife Helen, and his sister in law Jody Davis Pfeifer; his large extended family including Young, Davis, Fitzgerald, and Pfeifer clans. He was preceded in death by his son, Keith Young and his brother Wayne Young.

There will be a memorial Service for Ron on Saturday, June 25 at 2:00 PM at Daniels Funeral Home in La Grande, with a reception to follow at the Young residence.

A memorial fund has been established at the La Grande Country Club to benefit the Junior Golf Program. Donations can be made to the Ron Young Memorial Junior Golf Fund, Care of Dana Londin, La Grande Country Club, 10605 South McAllister , La Grande, Or. 97850.

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