More detail on this person: Keith Avery Young,
age 70, of Buckhorn, died on Thursday afternoon,
December 18, 2014 a recent patient of Geisinger
Medical Center in Danville.
He was born on October 8, 1944 at Bloomsburg
Hospital, second son of the late Charles A. and
Laurabelle Avery Young. He was raised on a farm in
Washingtonville area, which he often shared, was
where he learned the basis of his diverse
personality, principles, skills, traits and faith
which he modeled throughout his life. He was truly
a jack of every trade, master of many.
He graduated from Danville Area Senior High School
in 1962, and then attended Bloomsburg State
College for three years until he learned the Army
was recruiting helicopter pilots for the Viet Nam
War. He was strongly drawn to this call, dropped
out of college and enlisted in the Army flight
school program in January 1966. Upon graduation
as a Warrant Officer, he served his first of two
tours in Viet Nam. He was wounded in combat
operations at eight months into his first tour and
medivaced to the States. Upon recovery he was
assigned as an instrument flight instructor at
Hunter Army Airfield, Savannah, Georgia. There he
accepted a direct commission in the US Army
Transportation Corp. Subsequently he returned to
Viet Nam for a second tour as Captain Young.,
serving as an aircraft maintenance platoon leader
and flight platoon leader.
During his diverse military career, Keith returned
to college to graduate from Texas Christian
University with a degree in math and physics, as
well as from College of William& Mary, with a
master's degree in Educational Administration.
He has been awarded over 20 military medals and
ribbons including: Master Aviator Badge,
Distinguished Flying Cross, Purple Heart, Bronze
Star, Air Medal with 39 Oak Leaf Clusters, and
Meritorious Service Medal.
In 1978, CPT Young was selected for a sensitive
cold war military assignment. As a contract
officer assigned to the US Military Assistance
command, he was responsible for the
administration of the contract between the Iranian
1st Aviation Brigade and Bell Helicopter
International for soldier mechanic training.
In January 1979, a Shiite Muslim uprising forced
the Shah of Iran out of power. Civil riots and
demonstrations necessitated the evacuation of all
Bell Helicopter personnel. After all employees
were safely evacuated, CPT Young returned to the
States.
Upon leaving active duty in September 1979, CPT
Young served two years in the Army Reserves in an
Aeronautical Engineer position. Then in October
1981, he resigned his commission as a Reserve
officer and transferred to the Virginia National
guard into a Chief Warrant Officer (CW2) position,
thus returning to an active flying assignment as a
helicopter pilot. In 1983, the family returned to
Bloomsburg where Keith joined the staff of
Susquehanna Steam and Electric Station beginning
in the training center teaching nuclear and math
sciences, retiring from the engineering section in
2005.
He transferred into the Pennsylvania National
Guard, Ft. Indiantown Gap, also in 1983, where his
primary duties included Unit Trainer for all
aviation mission tasks, specializing in night
vision goggle mission training and air crew
coordination. In 1999, he was assigned as
Company Aviation Safety Officer.
Pennsylvania National Guard was assigned to
support the Enduring Freedom Campaign in Kosovo
with an Aviation Battalion Headquarters Company in
2003. He volunteered for a career fourth hazardous
duty assignment. He served as the Aviation
Battalion Aviation Safety Officer for a one year
active duty peace keeping mission. Mr. Young was
59 years old upon completion of that tour.
He also served as a Director on the Bloomsburg
School Board for 12 years prior to serving an
overseas tour in Kosovo.
Keith was awarded the Army Meritorious Service
Medal for his contribution to the PA Army National
Guard Aviation Program. On October 8, 2004 he
retired at the mandatory age of 60 after 38 years
of continuous service to his country. He was a
member of the Harrisburg Chapter of Quiet Birdman
Society, was active with the Columbia County
Veterans group with Dick Donald. Each year he
enjoyed speaking to local high school students
about his military career and how proud he was to
have served. In November he was honored to be one
of the parade marshals in the Veteran's Day
parade.
In his years of retirement, he never was idle. His
mind was always too busy creating projects on his
farm in Buckhorn, hunting every year, fishing on
Lake Champlain every June, watching and being
involved with his grandkids, driving to and hiking
41 of the 50 highpoints across America with
Gloria, building and carving wood, designing stain
glass, and so many other activities. And he was
never too busy to help anyone with anything they
needed.
Keith is survived by his wife of 48 years, Gloria
DeSantis Young, two children, daughter, Nancy
Young Nicholas, her husband, Cory Nicholas, two
grandchildren, Brandon Avery Nicholas and Lynsey
Brooke Nicholas, all of York, Pa., and a son,
Keith Avery Young, ll, Denver, Colorado, all of
whom he was extremely devoted to. Also surviving
Keith are his siblings: Charles Young, Newport
News, Virginia; Leslie Bryerton, Dillsburg, PA.;
Carl Young, Whitesburg, Georgia; and Barbara
Brown and husband, Terry, of Bloomsburg, his
extended family and cousins in this area.
Keith and Gloria are members of Wesley United
Methodist Church, Bloomsburg, where he was to
become a trustee next year.
A time of Visitation for family and friends will
be held on Monday morning, December 22 from 10
to 12 p.m. from the Wesley United Methodist
Church, 130 W. 3rd at Market Streets in
Bloomsburg.
Funeral services will also begin on Monday,
December 22 at 12 p.m. from the Wesley United
Methodist Church in Bloomsburg with his pastor,
Rev. Dr. Gary D. Weaver, officiating. Graveside
committal services with full Military Honors will
immediately follow in the Columbia Hill Cemetery,
West Hemlock Township. The Allen Funeral Home,
Inc., Bloomsburg is honored to be serving the
Young family.
Memorial contributions in Keith's name are
suggested to: Buckhorn Community Volunteer Fire
Co., 2014 Annual Fund Drive, 19 Firehall Rd.,
Bloomsburg, PA 17815 or The Wounded Warrior
Project, www.woundedwarriorproject.org
This information was last updated 01/03/2015
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Date posted on this site: 10/13/2025
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