Wallace Maitland Young

Wallace M Young, 89, passed away recently in Loveland, Colorado. “Wally” (as he was called by everyone who knew him) was born and spent his youth in Detroit, Michigan. After graduating from David Mackenzie High School in 1951, he served in a military police unit for two years in the U.S. Army. Wally served in the U.S. Air Force from 1954 until 1973 when he retired from military service at the rank of E-6, Technical Sergeant. His Air Force duties included security control, motor transport, missile support, and flight control in tactical flight squadrons. During his career, his tours of duty included Air Force bases in Michigan, California and New Mexico along with overseas tours in Saudi Arabia, Korea, Germany and Vietnam. After returning from Vietnam he had assignments in California and at Peterson AFB in Colorado where he retired. While serving in the Air Force he was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal, the Air Force Commendation Medal, the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, The Korea Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal and the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal.

After his military retirement he attended El Paso Community College in Colorado Springs where he received his degree in Police Science and Law Enforcement. He finished his working career in Security Affairs with the U.S. Civil Service.

He and his wife Janet moved to Lincoln, Nebraska for three years, in 1992 they returned to Colorado and lived in Fort Collins and then in Loveland. Wally was a strong advocate of physical fitness; he ran/jogged/walked every day until his health prevented it in his last years. He selected Colorado as his retirement location to be near nature and mountains. Wally especially enjoyed hiking and camping with his wife Janet. They traveled to many places throughout the U.S. and also explored Ireland, Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.

Wally was inquisitive; he loved reading, especially about American and World history. His military service was a source of great pride and joy to him; he especially enjoyed participating in the Honor Flight of Northern Colorado trip for veterans to Washington D. C. in May 2016.

He is survived by his loving wife, Janet of 40 years; his four children, Monica (Mark) Pitel, James (Suelynn) Young, Kim (Phil) Metting van Rijn and Maryann (Mark) Wright; and his three grandchildren, Joshua Pitel, Julia Pitel and Jenna Wright.

Interment will be in Resthaven Memory Gardens, Fort Collins, in a special area reserved for military veterans. A private service with military honors is planned for a later date.

Memorial donations may be made in Wally’s name to the High Plains Honor Flight.