A.W. Younts, Jr., passed on February 26, 2012, at the age of 81 with his family by his side. He was beloved by his family and embraced them as well; he will be sorely missed.
Born on the High Plains in Cone, Texas, to Arthur Younts and Lois Fuller Younts, he later drove farm tractors and did "men's work" in the great fields east of Lubbock during WW2, because so many of the men were off at war.
As a youngster, A.W. earnestly attended Sunday School at First Baptist in Bay City and learned of the Christian faith. He had a healthy work ethic, drove a taxi, and even worked at a local flower shop in Bay City, where he excelled, especially at speedy trips to Houston (as a result of his lead foot) to restock flowers. After serving Uncle Sam at Fort Hood, he applied at Phillips Petroleum the day he returned home, and was told to come back in a few days when he turned twenty one. He did to the day; AW told them because he needed the money.
After a fulfilling career at Phillips Petroleum with advancements all the way to Shift Supervisor, he began in earnest a great passion of his: he traveled with his wife Vern profusely, fulfilling their goal to live in every state, with the exception of Rhode Island, even if just for a month. They traveled extensively in Alaska and from the Arctic Circle to Baja California. He said some of his most memorable trips were to view Canada's polar bear migration and the Bay of Fundy and to the Florida Keys. AW and Vern panned for gold, searched for garnets, went dog sledding and snowmobiling. And made sure to visit family everywhere they traveled, from Chicken, Alaska, to Port Saint Joe, Florida.
AW is survived by sister Delores Ratcliff of Groesbeck and Sweeny and husband Gladmon; cousins Jim Wood of Angleton and Jennette Fuller Wilson of Ralls; daughters, Carol Younts of Bryan, Vonne Davis and friend Keith Baird of Boise, La., Christine Vaughan and husband Kelley of Galveston, stepdaughter Cheryl Balcombe of Chesterfield, Va.; sons Lynn D. Younts and wife Debbie of Deer Park, Arthur W. Rogers and wife Elaine of Port Saint Joe, Fl., Sydney L. Rogers of Pollock, La.; grandchildren, Natalie Wendele and husband Neal of Harker Heights, Dalaine Prince of Deer Park, Frieda Younts of Bryan and Sarah Arends of Richmond, Va, Kel Vaughan and wife Christina of Galveston, Joshua Vaughan and wife Christi of Galveston, Nathan Vaughan and wife April of Galveston, Bobby Ray Davis and wife Darla of Alexandria, La., Michael Davis of Boise, La., Tiffany Rogers of Port Saint Joe, Fl, David Rogers and wife Chandey of Pollock, La.; Dozens of Beloved Nieces, Nephews, Great Grandchildren and Other Family.
Pallbearers are Lynn Younts, Gladmon Ratcliff, Mickey Goolsby, Neal Wendele, Earl Hassell and Ryan Rich.
Visitation will be Friday Mar 2, from 5-7 p.m. at the funeral home. Services will be Saturday, Mar 3 at 2 p.m., at Taylor Bros. Funeral Home. Interment will follow at Roselawn Memorial Park in Van Vleck.