David Arlen Young of Buda, Texas passed away suddenly on Monday, April 6, 2020 at the age of 73. David was born in Goose Creek, Baytown, Texas on September 25, 1946 to Vane Holder Young and Dora Pauline Garrison Young.
David grew up in Beaumont and when his parents divorced with his father moving to the Rio Grande Valley and David staying in Beaumont with his mother, he earned his private pilot’s license at the age of 16, so he could more easily visit his father some 400 miles away. He graduated South Park High School in 1964 and continued his education for two years at Lamar College in Beaumont. While attending school, he began working for Southwestern Bell Telephone.
In 1967 he was drafted into the US Army, entering the service in Beaumont; received Basic Training at Fort Polk, Louisiana; MOS Training at Fort Rucker, Alabama and was deployed to Vietnam in 1968 through 1969. His private pilot’s license and flying experience earned him Warrant Officer rank and the job of flying helicopters in Vietnam. During his service in the US Army, he was awarded the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star.
Following his discharge in 1969, he returned to Beaumont and returned to work for Southwestern Bell Telephone, relocating to Rosenberg, Texas. He continued with SW Bell through 1979, when he moved to Houston and began working for Southern Pacific Railroads as a Hostler, tasked with moving train engines in the round house and the rail yard. He soon became a Railroad Engineer and continued with Southern Pacific moving to Georgetown in 1995, just prior to SP being purchased by Union Pacific. David retired from Union Pacific in 2012 and moved to Buda to be close to his son and grandchildren, which was one of his highest priorities in retirement – being GRANDPA; along with cars and guitars!!
David is survived by his wife Margo Bergesen Young, his son Gary Young (Naomi), Margo’s children Rebecca Smith, Dorothy Beresesn and Bryan Bergesen. His granddaughters Eleanor Leah Young and Clara Lucille Young. David was preceded in death by his parents and his first wife, Kathy Lee Delaney Young.
