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The Rev. Fr. William K. Young + Olofson

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Rev. Fr. William was born on June 21, 1938, in El Paso, Texas, to King William Young and Pat Fellers Young. He graduated from Ysleta HS in 1956 and received his BA from the University of Texas, El Paso in 1962.
A Navy veteran, he served on active duty two years in Vietnam and Southeast Asia, then on active duty two years as a legal officer at Naval Schools Command in San Francisco. He was discharged a full lieutenant in 1966.
Bill Young served on the staff of San Francisco’s Grace Cathedral as Deputy Verger and assistant organist from 1966-1967, having sung in its Cathedral Choir of Men and Boys from 1964-66, while in the Navy. An organist, Young continued his education at Union Theological Seminary in New York where he earned his MSM in organ and choral conducting from the School of Sacred Music in 1969. From 1970-1975 Young served with organ and choirs at 2 Episcopal churches: St. Paul’s in Visalia, CA and the Christ the King, in El Paso, TX. During those years, Young was also a DJ and talk-show host in TX and NM and with Leo Miletich owned American Musical Heritage (Broadway music on radio) in El Paso.
Fr. Young received his master’s degree in Divinity in 1978 from the Church Divinity School of the Pacific, Berkeley, CA. He met and married his wife Katy in seminary, where she graduated with an MA in Church History in 1977 from the Graduate Theological Union and CDSP. They were married in the seminary chapel, in 1978, with Katy’s son Mike and daughter Kelley carrying the ring pillow and the rose-petal basket. Bill was now a husband and father, with a family of four. He was ordained a Deacon and then a priest in 1979 during his first ministry, at Church of the Holy Mount in Ruidoso, New Mexico.
In 1980, Fr. Young was called to be Rector of All Saints Church in Watsonville, CA, within the new Diocese of El Camino Real. He served for 17 years, from 1980 to 1997, during which All Saints hosted three diocesan conventions. In El Camino Real, he chaired both the Liturgy and Ecumenical Commissions and served on the Standing Committee -and as a national convention Deputy. Bill+ also found time for travel and fun with his family, as well as trips to Britain, France, Canada, and Hawaii.
In 1997, the Rev. Young was called to be Rector of Advent Episcopal Church in Sun City West, AZ, serving 7 years, from 1997 through 2004, the year he retired from holding cure. After retirement, he became the Interim Rector of St. Christopher’s Episcopal Church in Sun City, AZ, serving from 2005 through 2008. From 2012, he was an Assisting Priest for 7 years at Christ Church of the Ascension, Paradise Valley, including serving as Interim Rector, in 2015.
A 32nd Degree Mason, Bill also was a Past Master of Peoria Lodge 31 and was Chaplain for the S.C. West High Twelve Club. Fr. Young and his wife Katy (a flautist) were active in choral music, singing in many full chorales - and in their church choirs.
Bill is survived by his wife Katy of Sun City West, AZ, his brother, Lewis Young of Bethlehem, GA, his sister Jean Ames of El Paso, TX, his stepchildren, Michael F. Dolan of Olympia, WA and Kelley Dolan Ryan of Bend, OR and 3 grandchildren: Kristen Olafson (US Navy), Connor and Torin Ryan of Bakersfield, CA.
Donations in Father Bill ‘s memory can be sent to SIM, the Society for the Increase of the Ministry (simministry.org/donate) or to the Shriners’ Children’s Hospitals (lovetotherescue.org).
The Rev. William K. Young’s memorial service and reception will be on Friday, October 8 at 3:00 pm at Advent Episcopal Church, 13150 Spanish Garden Drive, Sun City West, Arizona.