Donald P. Young's Obituary
Donald P. Young1932 - 2013Donald Young, former Oil City, PA. resident, died Wednesday, June 12, 2013 peacefully at his home in Safety Harbor, Florida. Mr. Young was 81 years old.Young was born and raised in Oil City and was a 1950 graduate of Oil City High School. He married Alice Paxson of Buffalo, New York in 1952 and brought her to Oil City where together they built two successful businesses and raised two daughters. Don and Alice moved to Florida, following both daughters who had relocated there earlier, and all made Florida their permanent home by 1987.Mr. Young built, owned and operated, along with his wife, River Ridge Golf Course until its sale in 1980. He also owned and operated Young's Vending for over thirty years.Young was fortunate to retire at the age of 48 and spend the following thirty plus years doing whatever he wanted. He was an avid golfer, playing five days a week along with several yearly out-of-town golf trips. He enjoyed traveling to exotic tropical locales with friends Glenn Dashner and Karl Kikel. He and Alice traveled to visit several good friends who were former Oil City residents such as Nick Elnicki and Blair and Nancy Hildebrand. Don and Alice looked forward to visiting friends and family both in Oil City and Buffalo and never missed the yearly Florida reunions of the OCHS Class of 1950.Mr. Young was predeceased by his wife Alice, in 2002; an infant daughter in 1953; and his parents Paul and Geneva Young. He is survived by his two daughters; Sandra Young Hurst of Live Oak, Florida and Karen Young Schmeiser of Palm Harbor, Florida; two grandchildren, Matthew Schmeiser (13) and Allyson Schmeiser (10) of Palm Harbor; two sons-in-law, Ronald Hurst and Brent Schmeiser; his brother, Robert Young of Oil City and sister, Gayle Winger of Franklin; sister-in-law Elizabeth Zurbrick of Seminole, Florida, brother-in-law William Paxson of Buffalo; and several nieces and nephews.Don never fully recovered from losing Alice and was felled by Parkinson's Disease the past several years. After a fall in summer of 2010, he spent three months in a rehabilitation facility but never recovered from the Parkinsons that ravaged his body. His daughters brought him home and, with the assistance of several wonderful caregiving angels, were able to attend to his needs and keep in comfortable in his own home. Young handled his incapacitation with acceptance, humility, grace, and patience - characteristics that usually you wouldn't associate with our Dad, said daughters Sandra and Karen fondly. Approximately three weeks prior to his passing, Mr. Young took control and made a decision to cease all medications, nourishment, and fluids. He informed his family that he was "tired of fighting the fight and ready to go". As always, his daughters respected their Father's wishes, understood his position, and rallied to care for him until his passing, "This last act was my Father, through and through," stated daughter Karen. "This was a man who made a decision and always had the discipline and determination to see it through. He demonstrated this throughout his life and, to me, is the bravest and most strong man I have ever known. Strangely enough, his last act serves as an example to my children of decisiveness, discipline and determination." Mr. Young spent the last weeks of his life surrounded by his daughters, grandchildren, and sons-in-law. Fortunately, he also was comforted by and attended to by his brother Bob and sister Gayle shortly before his death. Per Mr. Young's request, there will be no services. He will be cremated. Moss Feaster Funeral Home in Dunedin, Florida is handling arrangements. Condolences can be sent to the Young Family at 1815 Stonebrook Lane, Safety Harbor, FL 34695 or online at www.mossfeasterdunedin.com
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