Ray Arnold Young passed away at his home in Nauvoo, Illinois on September 9, 2017. He was born in Newdale, Idaho on March16,1930 to Ernest Lorenzo and Edythe Watts Young. Ray moved to Twin Falls, Idaho with his family when he was in middle school. He attended Twin Falls High School. When he was 14 he met Mary LaRae Miller and decided that very first day he would marry her. They were married in 1951 in the Idaho Falls Temple. They are the parents of six children. They made their home in Twin Falls and he purchased a Conoco gas station. In 1957, after having served in the National Guard for 10 years, he decided to join the Army.
Ray served in many places over his career. He especially loved time at Fort Rucker, Alabama where he taught fixed wing and helicopter training. He served two tours of duty in Vietnam. During his last tour in 1976 he was instrumental in the building of the first LDS chapel in Vietnam. He also was able to fly many General Authorities to various bases in Vietnam when they would be in the country to visit. H felt that he was more on a mission than in a war zone. He loved his country and was proud to serve. Through the military he was able to complete his college education and graduated from the University of Omaha. He retired in 199 at the rank of Colonel, settling in the Washington, DC area. After retirement he worked for Airline Pilots Association and then Barlow Corporation before retiring fully in 1996.
