Kenneth Leon Young was born in Vernon, Texas on August 21, 1940. He was the 5th of sixth children of Kenneth and Annie Young. The family relocated from Texas to California in 1942 when farm labor jobs were plentiful in the San Joaquin Valley. Leon grew up in Shafter, Dinuba, Buttonwillow and Tulare where the family picked cotton and stone fruit. He graduated from Tulare High School in 1958 and immediately joined the Marine Corps. Following boot camp, he served in the Marine Corps Reserve for seven years. Leon attended the College of the Sequoias in Visalia.
In August of 1961, he met his future bride, Sharon Dailey at a birthday party. They dated for two years and were married on August 16, 1963. The Young family then moved from Tulare to Fresno where Leon accepted a warehouse job at Jorgensen Company in 1965. They started their family that year with the birth of their first daughter and went on to have two sons and another daughter. The Youngs began attending Arlington Heights Church of Christ where Leon served as a deacon and elder. He saw his congregation through a few mergers, eventually becoming the Woodward Park Church of Christ. While he served the church in many roles as a teacher, mentor, and elder, Leon was particularly known for his beautiful singing voice and his passion for leading worship. He loved to share the good news of Jesus to all who would listen through the Joy Bus ministry and his home bible studies.
His joyful spirit and loving nature were an encouragement to all who met him. Leon found delight in even the simple things in life, and he could make a fun game out of the most mundane tasks. His positive attitude was contagious and uplifting to all who knew him. To those who needed a positive role model or father figure, Leon was there to fill that role. Even in his career, he stood out from the rest. With hard work and dedication, Leon worked his way at Jorgensen and became the president of the company. His warmth and kindness made him beloved by many customers and employees. Leon's temperate nature and peacemaking abilities were a gift to both his church and his employees. In 2006, he stepped down as president from Jorgensen but loved his work so much that he continued to serve his customers until 2018 when he fully retired. In his early retirement years, Leon and Sharon enjoyed traveling around the United States and all over the U.K. They especially enjoyed vacationing together in Morro Bay.
Leon is preceded in death by his father and mother, Kenneth and Annie Young; his brother Alvy Young; sister Carolyn Kimbley; sister Nelda Thiessen; and sister Lurlene Petree.
He is survived by his wife, Sharon, his four children, daughter Kelley Havens and husband Mark of Sanger, CA; his son Jeffrey Young and wife Leah of Sanger, CA; his son Rodney Young and wife Shelly of Amarillo, Texas; daughter Melissa Danchak and husband Jeff of Euless, Texas; grandsons Caleb Danchak and Levi Young; granddaughters Rachel Young, Sophie Young, Cheyenne Young, Sydney Danchak, and Deborah Havens; and his brother Eddie Young and his wife Lona of Clovis, CA. He is also survived by many beloved nieces and nephews.
