Ralph M. Young, Jr., 85, Topeka, passed away on March 10, 2008 at St. Francis Hospital. He was born in Lawrence on March 3, 1923, the son of Ralph and Ruth (Pruessner) Young. Ralph grew up in Topeka and attended Topeka High School. During WWII, he served in the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers in Europe and built bridges. After the war, he built houses and worked for the State Architects Office and State Department of Agriculture. Later, he enrolled at Washburn University and earned a Bachelors Degree in Education. While student teaching, he met Jeanette E. (Smith) Jordan and they were married on September 6, 1957. He immediately became a dedicated father to her six children. Ralph and Jeanette had just celebrated 44 years of marriage at the time of her death on September 9, 2001. Ralph was a life-long educator, teaching first at Neosho Rapids and later in the Topeka school system for thirty years, primarily at Highland Park South Elementary. Ralph loved teaching and learning. While teaching, he went back to school at Emporia State University to earn a Masters Degree in Education. He also enjoyed sports and was a basketball and football official for many years. After retiring, he worked part time at the Villages with the youth in the Karl Menninger Cottage. Ralph was very active in Boy Scouting, first serving as a Boy Scout Leader and later as a Commissioner in Scouting. For many summers, he worked at Camp Jayhawk as part of the staff. He received the Silver Beaver Award for his service to Scouting. He loved camping and especially loved camping in the Grand Tetons with his family. Survivors include: Bruce (Sarah) Jordan, Sand Springs, OK; Nathan (Debbie) Jordan, Broken Arrow, OK; Jeffrey (Julie) Jordan, Topeka; Amzie Jordan, Beloit, KS; Joyce (Michael) Jordan, Beloit, KS; and Nancy (Rick) Roberts, Stayton, OR. He is survived by 10 grandchildren and one great-grandson. Funeral service will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, March 15 at Penwell-Gabel Southwest Chapel, 3700 SW Wanamaker Road. Burial will follow at Penwell-Gabel Cemetery. Ralph will lie in state at the funeral home after 2:00 p.m. on Friday and visitation will be from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Memorial contributions may be given to Boy Scouts of America, Jayhawk Area Council, 1020 SE Monroe, P.O. Box 851, Topeka, Kansas 66601-0851 or to Washburn University Endowment, 1700 SW College Avenue, Topeka, Kansas 66621-0001. To leave a special message for the family online, visit www.PenwellGabel.com. Ralph M. Young, Jr.
Published in the Topeka Capital-Journal on 3/12/2008