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George R. Young (1925-2017)

George R. Young (1925-2017)

Retired sergeant for Toledo police served in WWII, was in­volved in service groups

George R. Young, of Maumee, a retired Toledo police sergeant who was a past president of the Toledo Police Credit Union and a member and officer of other police organizations, died Thursday at Hospice of Northwest Ohio in Perrysburg following illnesses of congestive heart failure and cancer. He was 92.

Mr. Young was born in 1925 in Toledo, the son of Charles and Hulda Young. He left Waite High School to enlist in the Navy at 17 and then earned his GED after World War II. He also received an honorary diploma from Waite years later, family members said. He took occasional classes at the University of Toledo.

Mr. Young was promoted from patrolman to sergeant in 1963. He served in field operations and the traffic bureau before retiring in 1981.

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His daughter, Vicki Phillips, said Mr. Young was a devoted and proud father who made sure all his children had a big wedding, and worked 12 years as a bus driver for Toledo Public Schools to earn the money to make that happen.

She said he was proud that all five children were still married 30 or more years later. The family lived 50 years on Ogden Avenue in South Toledo and he moved to Maumee in 2006, family members said.

Ms. Phillips said her dad worked in the Navy’s dental lab in San Diego and often said, “he was the only sailor who never went to sea.” She said a high point of her dad’s life was when he went on an honor flight July 21, 2010.

Between his discharge from the Navy and the start of his police career, he worked at Jeep and had other jobs.

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While on the Police department, Mr. Young was a member and past president of the Toledo Police Credit Union, a chairman of the Toledo Police Insurance Fund, a member of the Fraternal Order of Police #40, a member of Toledo Police American Legion Post #512, and a charter member and past president of the Toledo chapter of the Retired Police Officers Association.

Ms. Phillips said her father was good at solving problems.

“He was very good at identifying a problem, organizing answers for results, coordinating resources,” Ms. Phillips said. “If you were the president of the United States or homeless, it didn’t matter. He respected everyone.” She said he was a champion for the underdog.

Ms. Phillips said a traumatic event in his career was when a friend and partner, Walter Boyle, was killed in the line of duty in 1961. Then-Patrolman Young was not assigned to his partner that day.

Mr. Young’s son, Robert Young, said Officer Boyle’s family stayed in touch with his dad.

Robert Young said his father “projected,” or worked part-time while off-duty providing security at basketball games and concerts at the University of Toledo, including a 1969 concert in the UT Field House by rock singer Janis Joplin.

Mr. Young said a regular summer routine for the family was a Sunday swim and cookout and then Music Under the Stars at the Toledo Zoo where Sergeant Young would be projecting. He said Mr. Young was an admirer of the late conductor Sam Szor, a fellow Waite graduate.

“I was very proud of my dad being a policeman. He was a great father to all of us. All of his kids, we love him dearly,” Robert Young said.

Mr. Young was a 59-year dual member of Fort Industry Masonic Lodge and the Northern Light Masonic Lodge #40, and was a past president of the Zenobia Shrine Stewards.

In retirement he enjoyed playing golf, pool, and cards and, in the past 13 years, Mr. Young delved into creating humorous Christmas cards and jewelry for family and friends.

Mr. Young’s wife of 50 years, Flo Young, died in 1999. He is survived by children Vicki Phillips, James Young, Gary Young, Karen Polker, and Robert Young, 13 grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren, and sisters Lois Strang and Roma Bowers.

Visitation will be at Walter Funeral Home, 4653 Glendale Ave., 2 to 8 p.m., Monday. Toledo Police Department will hold Last Call Ceremony at 4:30 p.m. Monday, followed by Northern Light Masonic Lodge #40 F & AM memorial service at 6:30 p.m.

The funeral service will begin at the funeral home 10 a.m. Tuesday.

The family suggests contributions to the Fraternal Order of Police Honor Guards at 525 North Erie St., Toledo, or Hospice of Northwest Ohio, 30000 East River Rd. Perrysburg.

Contact Tom Troy at tomtroy@theblade.com419-724-6058 or on Twitter @TomFTroy.

First Published August 21, 2017, 4:00 a.m.

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