Home of William Young

Here follows an excerpt from the Spring 2008 edition of the "Franconia Legacies" newsletter published by the Franconia Museum:

IN MEMORIAM:
William Lee “Tickey” Young - April 15, 1930 – August 31, 2007

Tickey Young (age 77) entered “Eternal Life” this Fall. He was buried at his hunting and fishing farm estate (100 acres), in the Young Memorial Cemetery. The cemetery is located at the intersection of Big and Little Stoney Creeks near Woodstock, Virginia, in the Shenandoah Valley.

William, Bill, Tickey Young, or however you remember him, was born in the old Alexandria Hospital on Duke Street. The Young family lived in Del Ray, Alexandria at the time, and later moved to Fairfax County at 5966 Telegraph Road (the house still stands). In 1939 the family moved to Franconia at the intersection of Grovedale Drive and Beulah Road. An office building now stands at the home site. Later, the Young family moved south on Beulah Road, with a mailing address of Route 5, Box 389, Alexandria, Virginia. This move was to a thirty acre farm, which had previously been owned by the Fitzgerald family. They operated the Fitzgerald Grocery in Franconia, located at the intersection of Grovedale Drive and Franconia Road, across from Roger’s Feed Store. The farm is now part of a subdivision located across the street from the Beulah Street 7-11 store.

Tickey graduated from Mount Vernon High School in the class of 1948, and was able to attend his fifty year class reunion at the Belle Haven Country Club on October 24-25, 1998. After graduation, Tickey worked for his father at Young and Son Heating & Air Conditioning Company ,before being drafted into the Army in 1951. He served at Fort Meade, Maryland, Fort Knox, Kentucky, and in South Korea. He helped to build the Kempo Airport in Seoul, Korea. Tickey and his younger brother Charles were able to visit one another while stationed in Korea. Charlie had enlisted earlier in the U.S. Marine Corps, and saw extensive combat, making numerous amphibious landing assaults as a Marine Rifleman, on the eastern coast of Korea. All of the Young brothers, Jim, Tickey and Charles, served in the military during the Korean conflict.

Tickey’s marriage to Barbara Tapprich ended in divorce. They had three children; David Charles of Lynchburg, Virginia; William Mark, and Rebecca Lee both of Woodstock, Virginia. His second wife, Vallie Duval Young resides in Stanley, Virginia. He is also survived by two brothers; Jim of Springfield, Virginia; Charlie of Elkton, Virginia; and a sister, JoAnne Graham of Lopez Island, Washington State.

Tickey was associated with the heating and air conditioning industry in the Metropolitan Washington, D. C. area his entire working life. He received numerous awards from the building industry for his drafting, sketching, and mechanical construction skills.

In retirement Tickey purchased a beautiful home in Stanley, Virginia. He collected guns, brewed a large variety of wines, and did extensive wood working projects. However, his most favored activities were hunting and fishing. A large amount of his time was spent at his hunting and fishing farm estate near Woodstock. He often said he had become a “mountain man” in retirement. He loved hunting and fishing and could tell all the associated tales, even if you did not ask to hear them. Tickey taught Hunter Education to thousands of young people throughout the Shenandoah Valley, as part of Virginia’s hunter safety programs. He was also a Mason for most of his adult life.

I believe Tickey would want me, his brother Jim, to acknowledge each of you. So “hello” to his many childhood friends in Franconia, who helped him grow up and to make his early life so enjoyable. These special friends include: Johnny Milstead and family; the Uhler family, Bobby and Peggy; the Cooke family, Jac, Bill, Bob, David, and Bev; Buddy and Betty Nalls; the Flinchum family; the Jones family; the Cole family, Jean; the Flammer family; the Wright family; the Stewart family, Rodney and Jeffrey; the Milton Alexander family, Joe; and all the other wonderful folks.

Tickey would have said in summary, “I had a good life, I did my best, I had a family, and I took good care of my children. I served my country with honor, and I had fun along the way. It was a great adventure, and I thank all of those who helped me along the way, especially those in Franconia. I love my children and I wish all of you the best. It was a great adventure—I look forward to seeing you, but not too soon, as your journey progresses. Bless you.”