John George Youngman Jr.
John George Youngman Jr., 82, of Portersville, went to heaven Sunday after an eight-year battle with Parkinson's. Nola, his wife of almost 40 years, his eldest daughter, Carisa, and his granddaughter, Kelly, were by his side.
John was born to John G. Youngman Sr. and Louise Crooks Young Youngman on Nov. 3, 1932.
He was an older brother to Lynn, who died from polio at 18 years of age. John was raised in numerous states across the country as his father pursued employment in civil engineering and ultimately settled on the east coast. His mother earned a master's degree in her 50s and later established a career in social work with the state of Maryland.
At the ripe age of 16, John graduated in 1948 from East High School in Salt Lake City, Utah, and began service in the U.S. Army — Security Agency. He was a Korean War veteran and gratefully employed his G.I. Bill for a degree in business and economics at the University of Maryland.
During his college tenure, John married his first wife and fathered two sons, Marc and John.
Upon graduation, John was hired by the Mobil Oil Co. After 13 years with Mobil, the remainder of John's career was spent in real estate negotiations for large commercial franchises such as Denny's.
He worked predominately out of New Jersey before he married his “bride,” Nola, on Aug. 16, 1975. They had two daughters, Carisa and Erica, and moved to Pennsylvania, where John later “retired” and started a side business selling table lighting.
John was a member, deacon and former youth leader of the Rose Point Reformed Presbyterian Church. He was a member of the Muddy Creek Township Planning Board and also served on the Slippery Rock School District Board for 16 years.
Anecdotally, John never made a sandwich sitting down. He refused to hire help if there was a “do-it-yourself” book available, and he read every Tom Clancy, John Grisham and Louis L'Amour novel. John was an eloquent orator with charm and quick wit that could fill a room for days. He tried his lot in “agriculture” with chickens until he projected the cost for a single home-grown egg at more than $4.
Though effective farming was never a success, even with the ownership of a goat and tractor, his heart found its true passion in the workshop, immersed in creative woodworking projects.
John never failed to laugh at himself, open the car door for his wife, Nola, and dance a little jig at the expense/embarrassment of his children. He loved ice cream cake and never passed up a piece of chocolate. John would also want to note that the Republican Party has lost one of its most loyal members.
John is survived by his wife, Nola; his two sons, Marc Youngman and John George (Gail) Youngman III, and his two daughters, Carisa (Jason) Takac and Erica (Adam) Zajac. Subsequent grandchildren include, Marc Youngman Jr., John George Youngman IV, James Youngman (husband of Samantha and father of great-grandson, John George Youngman, and great-granddaughter, Audrey), Kelly Titus (mother of great-grandsons, Robert and Connor), Allison and Kathryn Takac, and Macoy Zajac. Without question, John's greatest legacy is through his children.
Tremendous heartfelt thanks go to everyone who provided comfort and more to Nola and family while John remained in the hospital for several months. Many thanks also to the wonderful staff at Kindred Hospital at Heritage Valley in Beaver.
Youngman— Visitation for John George Youngman Jr., who passed away Sunday, Feb. 22, 2015, will be from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Friday at the Smith Funeral Home, 421 New Castle St., Slippery Rock.A final visitation will be from 10 a.m. to the time of the funeral service at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Rose Point Reformed Presbyterian Church, 1166 Church Alley, New Castle, where a committal ceremony with military honors will be performed.Family and friends are cordially invited to the church for a celebration of life luncheon at noon following the funeral and committal ceremony.
