William F. 'Digger' Young Jr.
William F. “Digger” Young Jr., 81, of Butler passed away Tuesday.
He was born on Feb. 21, 1933, in Grove City, the son of the late William F. Young Sr. and Joy Cora (Wylie) Young.
Digger was a lifelong funeral director licensed in 1955.
He graduated from West Sunbury High School in 1951 and from the Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science in 1953.
He had worked at Castle Rubber during his funeral directing training for over two years and also at Armco for over seven years.
He bought the Young Funeral Home in West Sunbury in 1963 becoming a partner with his father, and in 1970 he bought the Atwell Funeral Home in Butler which became Young Funeral Home, Ltd. where he continued to work up until his death.
He was the Butler County Coroner from 1970 until his retirement in 1999. Digger also had served as president for both the Butler County Law Enforcement Association and the Pennsylvania State Coroners Association.
In his younger years, he played and coached baseball all around Butler County.
Digger was a member of the West Sunbury United Presbyterian Church, the AM Rotary Club, the Moose, the Elks, the ROJ Court 2 and Kachina Klub. He held very close his involvement with his Masonic and Shrine organizations, Victory Lodge 694, the New Castle Scottish Rite, the Syria Temple, having served as a Harige Clown and Potentate in 2001. He received his 33rd Degree in 2000. He also belonged to Butler Caravan 14, the Acacia Club and the Butler Shrine Luncheon Club.
Digger's pride and joy were his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren, and he cherished every chance he got to spend with them. He loved traveling, going to the casino with his family, playing cards with his friends, going to Steelers and Pirates games and much more. He was a very giving man who lived a very full life and will be greatly missed by all.
Surviving are his son, William F. (Cynthia) Young III of West Sunbury; his daughters, Monica (Vic) Campagna of Slippery Rock and Robin (Arnold) Christy of West Sunbury; his companion, Kay McCandless of Valencia; his granddaughters, Jodi Campagna (Liam) Brennan of Mars, Cori Christy (Owen) Brown of Mars, Courtney Burgoon of York and Carol (Jim) Callender of Butler; his grandsons, Tad (Laura) Campagna of Slippery Rock and Cole William Christy of West Sunbury; 10 great-grandchildren, Lainey, Eden, Brady, Freddy, Elle, Corey, Kailey, Jameson, Nolan and Adrian; his former wife, Rachel J. (Gardner) Young of Butler; his brother, Edwin L. (Kim) Young of West Sunbury; and a number of nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his father, who died in 1976; his mother, who died in 1997, and his brother, Breaden Young.
Young — The friends of William F. “Digger” Young Jr., who passed away Tuesday, March 25, 2014, will be received from 1 to 4 and 6 to 9 p.m. Friday with Masonic Services at 6:30 p.m. and also from 1 to 4 and 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday at the Young Funeral Home, 127 W. Jefferson St., Butler. Services will be at the West Sunbury United Presbyterian Church at 2 p.m. Sunday.Private burial will be in the West Sunbury Union Cemetery.In lieu of flowers, Digger would want contributions made in his memory to the Syria Shrine Transportation Fund, 1877 Shriner's Way, Cheswick, PA 15024, to the Moniteau Scholarship Foundation, P.O. Box 226, West Sunbury, PA 16061 or to the donor's favorite charity.For more information visit www.youngfuneralhomes.com.
