Samuel Young Obituary

Family-Placed Death Notice

Samuel R. Young, Colonel (Ret.) USAF, age 91, died peacefully at his home on August 4, 2007. Sam was born on March 29, 1916 in Coatesville, Pennsylvania to parents, Cydney Alta Young and Samuel Rollo Young. As an infant, he traveled with his parents to College Park, Georgia, where his father was senior executive for three railroads. He graduated from Georgia Military Academy (now Woodruff Academy) and received his Civil Engineering degree from Georgia Institute of Technology in 1937. At Georgia Tech, he was a member of Alpha Tau Omega fraternity, served as captain of the Ga. Tech Football and Military Bands, and enjoyed many weekends playing at the Fox theatre with his band, the Tech Ramblers. In 1968, sent by the USAF, he completed the Harvard Advanced Management School. He worked for a short time with Robert & Company Engineers in Atlanta until his love of flying and world events of the 40's led him into service to his country. His military career began in the Army Air Corps as a pilot instructor during World War II. After the war, Sam served proudly another thirty-three years in the United States Air Force stationed around the world until his retirement in 1970. He was able to combine his love of flying with engineering skills in the Air Force - maintaining his flight status in training jets for twenty- plus years and holding senior positions responsible for building the North American Air Defense Command (NORAD) headquarters at Cheyenne Mountain, Colorado, and landing bases in Northern Thailand during the Viet Nam War. Following his military retirement, Sam returned to Atlanta and Robert & Company to work with the Atlanta Airport Engineers Expansion Plan for Hartsfield Airport. Sam was instrumental in the production of the airport basic securities manual - an FAA requirement in order for the City of Atlanta to receive federal funds. Sam was preceded in death by his wife of fifty-seven years, Elizabeth Rawlings Young, of Montgomery, Alabama. He is mourned by his three children: sons, Samuel R. Young, Jr. (wife, Suzanne) of Edenton, North Carolina and Michael M. Young of Los Angeles, California; daughter, Laura Young Palmer of Atlanta; granddaughter, Emily Young Auer (husband, Kris) and grandsons Samuel Aaron Young (wife, Amy) and Dacklin R. Young. He was preceded in death by his brother, Robert G. Young of Atlanta and is survived by a number of Rawlings and Young nieces and nephews. The family expresses sincere appreciation to caregivers Eleanor Bryan and Ida Barrow for the dedicated care given to their father during his last years and for the many years of special care and service of Mary Pettway. A service celebrating Sam's life will be held at Peachtree Road United Methodist Church at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday August 14th. The family will greet visitors at 1:00 p.m. at the church. In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to Peachtree Road United Methodist Church, 3180 Peachtree Road, NE, Atlanta, GA, 30305, to Hospice Atlanta at 1244 Park Vista Drive, Atlanta, GA 30319 or to a charity of your choice.