Alton Douglas Young

Alton Douglas Young, 91, passed away Friday, January 15, 2021, just shy of his 92nd birthday.

Doug was born January 20, 1929 in Stamford to Leonard Layfeyette and Mary Leo Young. He was the second of six boys. After high school at the early age of 17, Doug joined the Army/Air Corps to see the world, and that he did. Shanghai, China, first, where he learned to play golf which became his passion. He would play all over England, Germany, France, and the United States.   After retiring from the Air Force at age 38, he continued to serve our country as an Air Traffic Controller in Las Vegas, LAX, Phoenix airports for another couple of decades. He was a consummate storyteller from his recollection of crewing on B-36's to Area 51 to golfing with his buddies. Doug moved to San Angelo in 1994 to be near his family in Abilene and LaDell Lewis Lemmons and her extended family, which would become his family for the next 25 years, they would build memories of trips to Branson, Missouri Blue Grass and Gospel Music festivals, 20 years of Thanksgivings at the Wood's Ranchita at De Hanis, Christmas at Missy and Vince's in Dallas. Doug loved his Lord and accepted Christ in 1949, First Baptist Church in Avoca and he was baptized by LaDell's.He loved his family. His grandchildren, Max, Alex, and Isabella remember him teaching them to play marbles, checkers, and chess. Doug was preceded in death by his mother and father, all his siblings, Raymond, Lynn, Charlie, Monroe, and Keith.

He is survived by his loving partner, LaDell Lewis Lemmons of San Angelo, and her family, Rob, Ben, Karen, Trinity, Missy, Vince, Mertie, Lisa, Little, Temple and Debbie, Johnny and Debbie, Max, Alex, Isabella, Sheila, Dana and Rob; his children, Kim Lopez of Mesa, Arizona, Greg Young of Payson, Arizona, Sheri DeLugt and husband John of Chandler, Arizona, and Jay Young and wife Patty of Scottsdale, AZ.

Life took a strange turn and the man who told a great story, remembered every lyric he ever heard on Radio, suddenly began to get cloudy. And we had a different Doug just as loving and funny just not as clear as he once was, things changed. Then came COVID-19 fear of close contact ended with no contact only phone visits then plastic cubicles, no hug or kisses. Our prayer is that Doug still knew how much he was loved and remembered by family and friends. Our thanks to the caregivers who took care of our loved one when we no longer could at the Springs, Jerry, Rich, Linda. God Bless you all.

Arrangements are under the direction of Robert Massie Funeral Home. Doug's ashes will be buried at the family plot outside Avoca, at a later date.