Henry Franklin Young

Henry Franklin “Frank” Young, Jr., passed away November 16, 2013 in Aiken, SC, at the home of one of his sons. He was born on July 17, 1920, in Pembroke, FL., as the seventh of eight children. He was raised in Mulberry, FL. As a young man, he and his older brother James spent countless hours fishing hunting and trapping in the phosphate pits and Alafaya River around Mulberry. He became interested in automotive mechanics at an early age and by the age of 14 was already doing maintenance work on the trucks of W.S Badcock in Mulberry. Sensing that war was coming, he joined the US Army in 1940, and was assigned to the 2nd Armored Division then commanded by Gen George S. Patton. He deployed with the 2nd Armored, and participated in the Torch landings invading North Africa during November 1942, followed by the Husky invasion of Sicily in 1943. He participated in the Normandy invasion, landing with the 2nd Armored on June 9, 1944. He completed his combat service when the 2nd Armored stopped its advance at the Elbe River. He was wounded multiple times and was awarded the Bronze Star and Purple Heart. Upon return to peacetime, he worked as an automotive and heavy equipment mechanic for the phosphate and railroad industries. He moved to Bartow FL and married Miley Toole Hrabal on July 16, 1950. He remained in Bartow until the death of his wife on Easter Sunday of this year and thereafter lived with his two sons. He was an active member of First Baptist Church for over fifty years. He is survived by four children, Sylvia Webb (Carl) of Longwood, Sidney “Buddy” Young (Linda) of Sorrento, Mary Jo Chatman of Bartow and Henry Franklin Young, III, (Yvonne) of Aiken, SC. He also leaves behind a legacy of eleven grandchildren, and sixteen great grandchildren, and one great-great grandchild. The family will receive friends on Wednesday , November 20th from 4PM to 6PM at Whidden-McLean Funeral Home in Bartow. Funeral services will follow on Thursday, November 21st at 2PM at the First Baptist Church, Bartow.