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Gerald “Jack” A. Young, Ephrata, entered into his Savior’s presence and peace early Thursday morning, April 23, 2015.

Jack was a caring and giving man to his family, fellow church members, neighbors and anyone who needed uplifting. He ministered to others by sharing his love for flowers, gardening and music with them through giving self-arranged bouquets of his tenderly-raised blooms, particularly dahlias, roses, snapdragons, gladiolas, zinnias and asters. Jack had a special knack for raising beautiful, large amaryllis lilies indoors, which he frequently displayed for the enjoyment of others at Brethren Village Retirement Community, where he, and his wife, worked for 15 years together before his retirement in 2007, and at Jack’s home church, Brickerville United Lutheran Church (BULC).

He found pleasure in passing along his bounty of home-grown vegetables to others each season, and he and his wife, Letitia, entered flowers and produce faithfully at the Ephrata Fair and Denver and Manheim farm shows for the past eight years, earning hundreds of ribbons and Best of Show prizes.

Jack shared his beloved hymns and country gospel songs in church, and sometimes on the spur of the moment to those he felt may be in need of encouragement and inspiration. Jack attended Emanuel Lutheran Church (now BULC) for 70 years where he sang in the choir for 50 years.

He was born in Millport, Warwick Township to the late J. Howard and Minerva (Adams) Young, and graduated from Warwick High School in 1958. Jack worked in the plastering trade with Chester Ensinger Plastering for 33 years before his employment with Brethren Village.

An animal lover, Jack was especially close to the dogs in his life during the past years: English springer spaniel Max, border collie Buddy, and most recently this year, a new border collie puppy, Mickey, which is now his wife’s constant companion and guardian.

Less than a month from celebrating his 75th birthday on May 17, Jack, despite his decades-long struggle with a heart condition, was the longest-lived of his male family members in recent memory on his father’s side, for which he felt blessed.

Surviving from his immediate family are his wife of nearly 55 years, Letitia Faye (Keller) Young; daughter, Cynthia “Cindi,” married to David Dinger, Manheim; sister Charlotte, married to Mark Bauman, Lititz; brother, Terry Young and wife Linda, Ephrata; brother, Arthur “Art” Young, Lititz and grandchildren, Charis Dinger, Manheim, Ryan Dinger, York. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a granddaughter, Marisa Faye Dinger.

The family expresses special thanks and appreciation for those involved in Jack’s physical and spiritual care and support of the family these past few weeks: Rev. Scott K. Davis, BULC; Drs. John and Chris Brabazon and the staff of their family medicine practice, Ephrata; the chaplains, nursing staff, medical professionals and physicians of the Medical/Surgical and Intensive Care units at WellSpan Ephrata Community Hospital; and the chaplains and staffs of Pleasant View Retirement Community and Hospice and Community Care of Lancaster.

The family will receive relatives and friends for Jack’s viewing on Friday, May 1, 2015, from 6 to 8 PM, at the Brickerville United Lutheran Church, 340 E. 28th Division Highway, Lititz. An additional viewing will be held on Saturday, May 2, 2015, from 9 to 10 AM, at the church, followed by his funeral service at 10 AM, with The Rev. Scott K. Davis officiating. Interment will take place in the Emanuel Lutheran Cemetery, directly behind BULC.

In the spirit of Jack’s giving nature, gifts of flowers received for the viewing and funeral will afterward be passed on to the church’s members, relatives and friends who are home-bound, currently experiencing sickness or sadness, and nursing home residents.

Arrangements by Stradling Funeral Homes, Inc., Akron/Ephrata.

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