Post by Stretch on Dec 21, 2014 12:08:26 GMT -5
It greatly saddens me to announce the passing of AFFRA's best friend and long-time President Bill Young.
Bill had been sick for many months, following surgery to repair a broken hip from a fall this past summer. He fought for his life for a long time, but passed away in his sleep last night.
Bill’s funeral is to be held Saturday, 27 Dec. at the Munden Funeral Home in Morehead City, NC.
Munden Funeral Home & Crematory
2112 Arendell Street
Morehead City, NC 28557
252-726-8066
www.mundenfuneralhome.net/
I'll update here as we get more information.
I became close friends with Bill and Carrie over the years. My wife's family reunion is near Greenville NC, after which we then spend a week at Atlantic Beach. While we're in town, we always get together with Bill and Carrie one night for supper. He was always warm and welcoming, especially to my little girl, and watched her grow up over the years. They really hit it off, and they would visit and chat by themselves for a short while. When she got into horses and riding, Bill gave her a gift subscription to Young Horseman magazine to help fuel her interest.
Bill was one of the founding members of AFFR Association, along with Ray Cowley and Jim Rouse. After the first reunion in 1999 sponsored with Ray, Jim, and Bill's own money, folks had such a great time that it was decided to form a permanent organization and have regular reunions starting in 2001. Bill was elected President at that point, and had been continuously re-elected ever since.
I joined in 2002 and attended my first reunion at Cherry Point in 2003. I was concerned that as a pup in my mid-thirties I wouldn't be welcome in a group of Vietnam Marines. There was no reason to worry. I was accepted as an equal as soon as I walked in, and my crash crew stories were welcomed just like everyone else's. From the very beginning, Bill ensured that AFFR was an all-years, all duty-stations organization flavored to welcome every Marine who ever held a firefighting MOS. The Marine Corps AFFR Association is part of Bill Young's legacy, and I am proud to be part of that organization.
Please feel free to post your own thoughts and memories of Bill.
Bill had been sick for many months, following surgery to repair a broken hip from a fall this past summer. He fought for his life for a long time, but passed away in his sleep last night.
Bill’s funeral is to be held Saturday, 27 Dec. at the Munden Funeral Home in Morehead City, NC.
Munden Funeral Home & Crematory
2112 Arendell Street
Morehead City, NC 28557
252-726-8066
www.mundenfuneralhome.net/
I'll update here as we get more information.
I became close friends with Bill and Carrie over the years. My wife's family reunion is near Greenville NC, after which we then spend a week at Atlantic Beach. While we're in town, we always get together with Bill and Carrie one night for supper. He was always warm and welcoming, especially to my little girl, and watched her grow up over the years. They really hit it off, and they would visit and chat by themselves for a short while. When she got into horses and riding, Bill gave her a gift subscription to Young Horseman magazine to help fuel her interest.
Bill was one of the founding members of AFFR Association, along with Ray Cowley and Jim Rouse. After the first reunion in 1999 sponsored with Ray, Jim, and Bill's own money, folks had such a great time that it was decided to form a permanent organization and have regular reunions starting in 2001. Bill was elected President at that point, and had been continuously re-elected ever since.
I joined in 2002 and attended my first reunion at Cherry Point in 2003. I was concerned that as a pup in my mid-thirties I wouldn't be welcome in a group of Vietnam Marines. There was no reason to worry. I was accepted as an equal as soon as I walked in, and my crash crew stories were welcomed just like everyone else's. From the very beginning, Bill ensured that AFFR was an all-years, all duty-stations organization flavored to welcome every Marine who ever held a firefighting MOS. The Marine Corps AFFR Association is part of Bill Young's legacy, and I am proud to be part of that organization.
Please feel free to post your own thoughts and memories of Bill.