Gerald Lee “Clipper” Young, born Sept. 1, 1943, in Flossie, Wayne County, Kentucky, peacefully passed away at home in Lebanon, Indiana on Friday, Jan. 12, 2024. He was the son of the late Arthur Young and Zora Branscum and was one of three siblings, including his brother, Joe Kelly Young and his sister, Mary Joyce Houston.
Gerald was raised on a farm in Linden, Montgomery County, Indiana, where he cared for the livestock, including cows, pigs, chickens, sheep and horses. He was a graduate of Linden High School and a member of the Class of 1961. He was an athlete and a three-sport letterman in basketball, baseball and track. Gerald received the Distinguished Player Award for basketball his senior year. He remained close with his high-school friends and fellow athletes. Members of the Linden basketball team would often meet for breakfast to share stories and memories. Following high school, Gerald attended barber school at Indiana Barber College in Indianapolis, Indiana, and he received his barber license in 1963. Gerald served six years in the Army National Guard as a Specialist Fifth Class and qualified for a Sharpshooter Badge with Rifle Bar. He received an Honorable Discharge in 1970.
In 1967, Gerald became the owner and operator of Modern Barber Shop in Downtown Lebanon. He was the perfect home-town barber, quick with a joke, a humorous story or a witty remark. He became the owner and operator of the West Side Café in 1984. Gerald was a long-time member of Ulen Country Club and had a passion for golf. He regularly planned and attended golf trips with his many friends and family members. He spent winters in North Fort Myers, Florida playing golf and spending time with his “Lebanon” friends. He also enjoyed cooking and entertaining, but most of all, he loved his family and especially spending time with his grandchildren teaching them to play poker and other important life skills.
Gerald was married to Barbara (“Barb”) Rhoads Young for 21 years, from March 6, 1966, until their divorce in 1988. He is survived by the four children he shared with Barb: Jinger (Doug) Moore, Julie (Jeff) Toole, Jeff (Angie) Young and Jodi (Steve) Wooldridge; 13 grandchildren, DJ Moore, Clayton (Paige) Campbell, Collin Campbell, Camren (Jada) Toole, Carson Toole, Caden, Toole, Jackie (Dimitri) Venets, Blake (Gabby) Wooldridge, Hollyn (Josh Simpson) Wooldridge, Jerry Frick, A.J. Young, Adam Young and Jasmine Young; six great grandchildren, Jaxon Moore, Briar Campbell, Stelio Venets, Josh Simpson, Mikey Wooldridge, and Mia Wooldridge; a sister-in-law, Sharon Hobson; and a brother-in-law, Sam Houston.
Gerald is preceded in death by his parents, Arthur Young and Zora Branscum, his brother, Joe Kelly Young, his sister, Mary Joyce Houston, a granddaughter, Bethany “Pep” Moore and a son-in-law, Robert P. Campbell.
Family and friends will gather 3-6 p.m. Friday, Jan. 19 for visitation at the Strawmyer & Drury Funeral Home, 2400 N. Lebanon St., Lebanon, followed by a private, family-only memorial service.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in honor of Gerald’s granddaughter Pep by selecting the “Bethany Moore Scholarship Grant” managed by the Central Indiana Tennis Foundation at the following website: ustamidwest.formstack.com/forms/central_indiana_tennis_foundation_donate.
For a direct link to the above website, simply scan the following QR code and select the above fund.
