Burpee, Carpenter & Hutchins Funeral Home

ROCKLAND – Robert LaForrest Young, 81, died Tuesday, December 6, 2011 at his home following a courageous battle with lung cancer. Born in Rockland, September 14, 1930, he was the son of Clyde Stanwood Young and Dorothy Lapham Young.
Robert was raised on Matinicus Island until age nine when in 1939 his family moved to Rockland. He attended Rockland schools.
He enlisted in the United States Army in 1949, serving at Fort Lewis, Washington where he studied advanced Infantry Training and Radio Operation. In August 1950 Robert landed in Pushan, Korea serving with the 2nd Infantry Division. He was first wounded at the Battle of Naktons River and later wounded at the Battle of Kunri. He received the Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster, Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Medal, Korean Campaign Medal with two Battle Stars, United Nations Service Medal, Korean Government Service Medal, Presidential Unit Citation with two Oak Leaf Clusters, Korean Presidential Unit Citation and Combat Infantry Badge.
Returning from the service, he ran Payson and Young Taxi with a partner and later operated a Cushman Bakery delivery route. He spent 13 years in construction and ten years as a Safety Compliance Officer with the State of Maine Bureau of Labor.
Robert enjoyed hunting, fishing, collecting and refinishing antiques, and spending time with his family and friends. He also enjoyed his daily morning coffee with his wife and friends at McDonalds. He took pride in his time spent doing research on his computer.
He was a 58 year member of the Winslow-Holbrook-Merritt American Legion Post No. 1, which he was Commander three times during those years, Rockland Lodge of Elks No. 1008, National Rifle Association, 2nd Infantry Division Association and the Korean War Veterans Alliance.
He was predeceased by one brother W. Scott Young. Other than his wife Lillian of Rockland, Robert is survived by a son, Scott W. Young of Owls Head; three daughters, Cheryl Weeks and her husband Ronald of Jefferson, Valerie Sanborn and her husband Fred of Waldoboro, Tina Jones and her husband Gary of Cushing; a brother, Richard Young and his wife Marilyn of Birnamwood, Wisconsin; two sisters, Caroline Holmes of North Berwick, Joan Czajkowski of W.Springfield, Massachusetts; nine grandchildren; six great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.
Relatives and friends are invited to visit from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., Wednesday, December 14, 2011, at Burpee, Carpenter & Hutchins Funeral Home, 110 Limerock Street, Rockland, where a funeral service with military honors will be held at 1:00 p.m., Thursday December 15, 2011. The Reverend Wayne Sawyer will officiate. A reception at 104 Limerock, will follow interment at Village Cemetery, South Thomaston.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Winslow-Holbrook-Merritt American Legion Post No. 1, P.O. Box 582, Rockland, ME 04841