Graveside services for R. Owen Young will be held at 10 a.m. on Friday, July 3, at Mountain View Cemetery in Riverton.
Mr. Young died in San Jose, Costa Rica, on Thursday, June 25, 2009, at the age of 62.
Robert Owen Young was born in Bassett, Neb., on Oct. 22, 1946, and grew up in Riverton. He was a member of the Riverton High School Class of 1965.
He joined the U.S. Marine Corps in 1964 and served two tours of duty in Viet Nam. He received his GED and completed two years of college education while in the Marines. He returned home until 1974 when he enlisted in the U.S. Army to pursue a career in the military. Spec. 4th Class Robert Owen Young received the Army Commendation Medal for Heroism in 1975, while serving in Korea. He was stationed in Germany with Army top security topography work when he was injured in an accident. He later was medically retired from military service and returned to Riverton.
He later married Sandy (Drury) Lubinski, and they made their home in Riverton with her two children, Rurik and Danika Lubinski.
While in Riverton, Mr. Young was appointed by then-Gov. Mike Sullivan to serve as Secretary of Veterans' Affairs for Wyoming. He organized the Memorial Jade Project, which was dedicated to the Battle of Normandy Museum on the coast of France in honor of those who served in the armed services from Wyoming.
Mr. Young was a member of the American Legion, VFW, and Sertoma. He was also active in the Riverton Country Club, being an avid golfer. He was supportive of youth activities, especially Boy Scouts, youth golf, and youth soccer.
He was a member of St. James Episcopal Church.
Following divorce, Mr. Young moved to Costa Rica.
He is survived by his wife, Katty, and adopted son, Adonis, of Costa Rica; one brother, Mike Young and his wife Mary of Lander; sisters, the Rev. Kay Young of Cincinnati, Ohio, and Mary Jane Lewis and her husband Robert of Torrington; many nieces and nephews, and great nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his father, LeRoy Allen "Cappy" Young and mother Mary Jane "Marie" (Casey) Young.
Online obituaries are available and condolences for the family may be made at thedavisfuneralhome.com
Services are under the direction of the Davis Funeral Home of Riverton.