George John Young

George John Young was born March 2, 1938 in Chicago, Illinois to John David and Mary Marie (Lorenzetti) Young. His tradition carries into the future with immediate family members: Wife Frances; Daughter Barbara and husband Paul, Son Steve and wife Carolyn, Daughter Carol; Grandchildren John and wife Crystal, Amy and husband Ivan, David, and Michael; and Great-Grandchildren Henry and Josephine. He is also survived by his Sister, Joan Hix. When George was 3, his family relocated to New Mexico. George revealed his industrious nature and ambition at an early age, delivering newspapers by age 6. His youth was spent watching and learning from his father, a fine welder and chief engineer at railroad refrigeration operations. His mother was a scratch cook, baker, seamstress, and gardener. By age 17, George had joined the Air National Guard in which he honorably served his country as a reservist. He gained employment on construction crews building WWII post-era homes in Albuquerque, New Mexico leading to his certification as the youngest licensed contractor in the State of New Mexico. During his youth, he brushed fame with Dizzy Dean. He and childhood friend Milton served as batboys during a Dizzy Dean exhibition, as he was the Dean family paperboy. George had a variety of other boyhood jobs, such as golf caddy at the Clovis Golf Club. George was a lover of music and enthusiastically attended performances by a young Elvis Presley, Fats Domino, Little Richard, and a cast of other greats. In 1956, George graduated from Highland High School. George met Frances Ruth Leuthold on Central Avenue in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He and friend Chester spotted Frances and Helen in a passing car. Telephone numbers were exchanged, and he and Frances were soon a couple (and so were Chester and Helen). Approaching 65 years of marriage, George declared, "she was the prettiest girl I had ever seen." They were married on November 20, 1959 and the following year welcomed their daughter, Barbara. An interest in welding led George to take a year-long correspondence course at Greer College in Chicago, the country's first heliarc welding school. He later traveled to Chicago staying at a $3-per-night hotel and earned his welding certification. This life-changing event would set the stage for his later career development. In his early twenties, George learned of an opportunity in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where he could become a welder for American Airlines. Fresh out of welding school, he and Frances moved to Tulsa with their young daughter. They had a car, trailer, a few pieces of furniture, a pipeline welding machine, and $146 in their pockets. When he arrived for his interview at American Airlines, the interviewer was a bit skeptical of this young welder. George told the interviewer, "I have my certification and a family to support, and if you hire me, I will do the best job for you that I can." The interviewer was convinced, and George began his 32-year career in the aviation industry. Times were tough at first, and George sold his pipeline welder for $300 to make ends meet. Despite this humble beginning, during his career George received dozens of certifications in aircraft maintenance spanning a variety of systems and aircraft. He retired in 1996 as an Aircraft Inspector responsible for signing off on the flightworthiness of passenger airliners. In 1966, George and Frances welcomed their son, Steve, and continued planning for their future. They bought a lot on 5th Place where they planned to build their new home. With little money to invest, they purchased used lumber, brick, and other materials to start the construction. They spent many an evening pulling old nails from those hard, old, used two-by-fours. Construction began in earnest in 1969 and, with two kids in tow, George demonstrated his strong work ethic, love of making and building, and ingenuity. Days and weekends were spent framing, roofing, laying brick, and myriad other tasks. Frances worked diligently as chief construction assistant and became a proficient painter. A memory from the project is that of 3-year-old Steve nailing down the entire subfloor of that house singlehandedly. By 1971, their home was completed and the growing family took residence. Shortly after, in 1972, George and Frances welcomed their daughter, Carol, to the family. The mechanical acumen, love of building, and work ethic that George instilled in all three of his children are traits they carry with them through their lives. Not one to rest, George founded a machining business, Suntech Machine, in 1985 while still employed fulltime at American Airlines. This significant undertaking led George to complete medium-to-large-scale projects related to the automotive and oil and gas industries. Upon his retirement from American Airlines, George embarked on yet another career as founder and owner of Owasso Self Storage. He and Frances worked hard to construct and operate the new facility. George once said that "everyone who rents a storage unit has a story". George played the role of listener, sympathizer, and counselor as he offered practical advice and support. George and Frances eventually sold the facility and business and embarked on their next great adventure. In 2008, George and Frances began to look for a new place to call home. As a young man, George had set his sights on someday living in the coveted Utica Square neighborhood. George and Frances searched high and low, coming across a historic 2-story known as "Mr. Blanding's Dream House". Built in 1946, the home had seen better days and the couple proceeded to pour seven years of love and effort into restoring it to mint condition. They lived in their lovely home together for over 15 years. With a bold and adventurous spirit, spare time in their retirement was spent traveling to New Mexico, Colorado, Texas, Kansas, Arkansas, Illinois and elsewhere. George and Frances loved their road trips: visiting antique shops, new and familiar sites, and historic hotels and restaurants. George Young was a man of action, curiosity, persistence, conviction, hard work, and generosity. Above all, he enjoyed a challenge. He enjoyed technical work, the building or restoring of most anything, studying Native American people and cultures, collecting artifacts, travel, live music, coffee, and sitting with Frances on the back patio of his beloved Dream House. Over the years, he helped many a friend, neighbor, or family member in need. Visitation will be Monday, March 31, 2025 from 2pm-7pm at the Moore Funeral Home, Southlawn Chapel, 9350 E. 51st St., Tulsa, Oklahoma. Funeral Services will be 10:00am Tuesday, April 1, 2025 at the Memorial Park Cemetery Chapel. Interment to follow at Memorial Park Cemetery.

George John Young

March 2, 1938 - March 28, 2025