John Robert Young

On Tuesday, March 31, 2020, John Robert “Bob” Young – a loving husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather – passed away at the age of 91. Bob was born on February 15, 1929, in Marietta, Ohio. Despite having offers to play basketball around the country, he stayed home to take care of his mother and be near his high school sweetheart, Darlene Middleswart Young, whom he married following graduation from Marietta College. Later in life, Bob was selected to be in the Marietta College Hall of Fame and was able to enjoy this honor with his wife, Darlene and his children. As a Regional Sales Manager for DeVilbiss Company, they moved around the Midwest before finally settling on Atlanta in 1971. Together, Bob and Darlene raised two children, Jeff and Debbie.

There is nothing in life that Bob loved more than his family. He was a compassionate and caring husband and father. Additionally, he loved his grandchildren, Katie and Spencer, unconditionally. As soon as his grandchildren could play a sport or begin a hobby, Bob and Darlene attended every event whether it be a soccer game, volleyball match, or cross county event. In fact, Bob and Darlene attended so many events that several of Katie and Spencer’s friends considered Bob and Darlene to be their “second grandparents.” In recent months, he constantly expressed that he was blessed to live long enough to see his grandson marry in December this past year and to meet his granddaughter’s twins, Hazel and Gatlin Agness, born in July 2019.

In a close second to his family, Bob had a passion for golf and the days he and Darlene spent with their friends at Dunwoody County Club. Bob and Darlene were members for over 20 years and met lifelong friends with whom they played golf with and went on numerous trips. While not the strongest golfer, he was certainly one of the luckiest. One of Bob’s fondest memories was winning a car by making a hole in one in the Oldsmobile Scramble at DCC. He also never forgot that had to pay for a round of drinks and that Darlene ultimately got the car.

After Darlene’s passing, Bob moved to Mount Vernon Towers in Sandy Springs in 2015. He was the “social king” of Mount Vernon Towers attending every social function and being in charge of the library (even though he received the job because of his height as he was the only resident who could reach all the top book shelves). He thoroughly enjoyed the friends and staff he met during the final years of his life.

Bob was always a gentleman and he always had a smile on his face. He always tried to do the right thing whether it be for his family or a complete stranger that he had never met.

Bob was preceded in death by his father, Henry Young; his mother, Molly Young; his wife, Darlene Middleswart Young; and his two older brothers, Paul Young and Clyde Young. He is survived by his son, Jeff Young; his daughter, Debbie Brown and her husband Ed; his granddaughter, Katie Brown Agness and her husband Chris; his grandson Spencer Brown and his wife Leigh; his great-grandchildren, Hazel Ann Agness and Edward Gatlin Agness; his niece, Jane Young; and his nephew, Paul D. Young and his wife Becky.

A memorial service will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in memory of John Robert Young to the Alzheimer’s organization, either on-line at www.alz.org or by mail to Alzheimer’s Organization, P.O. Box 96011, Washington, D.C. 20090-6011.