Robert W. Young 42
December 4, 2020, in Staunton, Virginia.
Bob was born in Lewistown, Montana, where he graduated as valedictorian of his high school class. He went to Montana State University for a year before switching to Reed, where he wrote his thesis, “A Study of Methods for Estimating the Yield Rate of Serial Bonds,” with Prof. Frank Griffin [math 1911–56] advising.
He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II, attending MIT to study meteorology and then serving in the Pacific. After the war, Bob married Elizabeth (Betty) Moore and settled in Staunton, Virginia. He worked a short stint at Ast Hardware in Staunton before opening his own store, Young True Value Hardware, which he operated until his retirement in 1990.
Bob’s many and varied interests included conversational German at Mary Baldwin College and the Staunton Forum Club. He was Ingleside Country Club golf champion in the ’60s and was appointed chairman of the Staunton School Board for a term. He is survived by his two children, Richard and Ellen.
Appeared in Reed magazine: September 2021
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