January 9, 1944 - March 22, 2013
BURLINGTON FLATS - Rev. John Clark Young, a true man of God and long-time resident of Burlington Flats, passed into the loving arms of his Lord and Savior early Friday afternoon, March 22, 2013 in the woods near his home. He was 69.
John was born January 9, 1944 in Somerset, New Jersey, the son of John S. and Elizabeth H. (Richvalsky) Young.
Raised in New Jersey, John graduated from the Bridgewater Raritan High School with the Class of 1963. Following graduation he joined the United States Air Force and served at New Amsterdam Air Force Base in Holland as an automotive repairman with a supporting unit of US forces providing the major air defense for the NATO countries. He was honorably discharged in 1967 and served with the reserves until 1969. Upon his return to New Jersey, John was employed by Somerset Valley Construction as a heavy equipment mechanic until 1973.
He then moved to Burlington Flats where he met Irene C. Banner. They were married June 11, 1977 at the Cooperstown United Methodist Church .
John was employed at Skinner & Damulis in Richfield Springs from 1976 until 1983. Since 1987, John has owned and operated John Young Repair on Angel Hill Road.
It was while John was attending the Schuyler Lake United Methodist Church in the late 1970s that he was called to the ministry of his beloved Savior. John's passion was preaching The Word and he served as a lay pastor for the Schuyler Lake and Wells Bridge United Methodist Churches from 1984 until 1986, when he began his pastorate at the Burlington Green Baptist Church and the Universal Unitarian Church in Schuyler Lake. Ordained on August 29, 1993 at the Burlington Green Baptist Church, he retired from there in 2006. Following his retirement, John led a bible study which grew into the opening of the Light Walkers Baptist Church in Morris. He was the pastor there from 2009 until 2012. Most recently John attended the Oneonta First Baptist Church and participated in a weekly bible study there, as well as one in Schuyler Lake.
A very community minded man, he was always available to help his friends and neighbors that he loved so much. John and his daughter were instrumental in founding The Zone in Richfield Springs where teens could go to hang out in a safe atmosphere. He also presided over many weddings, baptisms, funerals, Baccalaureate services and Memorial Day services, as well as visited those who were hospitalized or ill. He loved watching football, lending a helping hand, and was the master at fixing anything. John will be sorely missed by all who knew him.
He is survived by his wife of 35 years, Irene C. Young of Burlington Flats; his children, Holly E. Dodd and her husband Douglas of Burlington Flats, Sara J. Young of Gloucester, MA, Margaret L. Young of Richfield Springs and Joshua John Young of Burlington Flats; his grandchildren, Alex E. Peretin and her twin sister, Ashley C. Peretin, Petra N. Peretin, Clark Z. Young and Douglas C. Dodd; his brothers, Richard C. Young and his wife Renee of Debary, FL, Frederick A. Young and his wife Jacqueline and Stephen Bruce Young, all of Burlington Flats; sisters and brothers-in-law, Judy and Bruce Brown of Oneonta and Janet and Robert Adam of Lady Lake, FL; and several nieces, nephews and cousins.
In addition to his parents, John was predeceased by his daughter, M. Petra Young on October 30, 1992 and his grandson, Raymond Peretin, Jr. on August 11, 1990.
A funeral service will be offered at 2:00 pm on Wednesday, March 27, 2013 at the Church of Christ Uniting, 14 Church Street, Richfield Springs, with John's brother, Richard C. Young, officiating.
Friends may call from 4 - 8 pm on Tuesday, March 26, 2013 at the Connell, Dow & Deysenroth Funeral Home in Cooperstown, when John's family will be in attendance.
Expressions of sympathy in the form of memorial gifts may be made to the First Baptist Church of Burlington, 281 County Highway 16, Burlington Flats, NY 13315 or Family Worship Center Church for the distribution of Bibles to third world nations in their own language at P. O. Box 262550, Baton Rouge, LA 70826.
Funeral arrangements are under the guidance of the Connell, Dow & Deysenroth Funeral Home in Cooperstown.
If you would like to send condolences to the family, send an email to Connell, Dow & Deysenroth. We will forward your comments to the family. If you would like to send flowers in memory of the deceased, contact Mohican Flowers, or call them at (607) 547-8822.
