Jarrell was born on March 4, 1934 in a farmhouse off Highway 84, between Lubbock and Shallowater, TX to Charles and Lucile Young. He was the oldest of five children, and the only boy. Jarrell graduated from Lubbock High School, Class of 1952, where he jumped high hurdles for the Lubbock High Westerners and played football for the Cowhands. He met the love of his life, Peggy Ruth Dawson, in 1950. His senior year of high school, he served as Lubbock FFA President, and Peggy was the FFA Sweetheart. Jarrell was awarded an Agricultural scholarship from Sears and Roebuck and attended Texas Tech University.
On July 28, 1953, he married his Sweetheart, Peggy. Jarrell and Peggy had two children, "Rodney" Jarrell Young, Jr. and Linda Sue Young. Jarrell began working as a letter carrier for the U.S. Postal Service in 1953 and served in the Texas National Guard from 1954-1969. During his military service in Lubbock, he commanded Headquarters Battery, 2nd Battalion, 132nd Field Artillery, and the 36th Division. During these times he worked late nights, but he always brought home a carton of chocolate milk to share with Peggy.
That letter carrier job turned into a 36-year career, ending as Postmaster in Abilene, TX. As Postmaster, Jarrell co-chaired the Combined Federal Campaign under the United Way of Abilene, and pushed a huge project - the Southern Hills Postal branch on Buffalo Gap Road. Jarrell retired from the Postal Service on December 31, 1989 in order to spend more time with his beloved wife, children, and granddaughters.
In retirement, Jarrell poured himself into civic and religious interests. He was a committed volunteer with Meals on Wheels, delivering meals and serving on the Board of Directors and Executive Committee for 20 years. He and Peggy were honored as Volunteers of the Month for May 2007. He volunteered as well with Disability Resources where he worked on their Celebrity Quail Hunt. Jarrell was a member of Kiwanis Club since 1978 and served in various chairman positions. He was honored as 2009 Kiwanis Layperson of the Year. He joined the Gideons International in 2005. As a Gideon, Jarrell served as President, Secretary, Chairman of Scripture Distribution, Faith Fund Chairman, and Webmaster.
Jarrell was an active church member and belonged to the First Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Lubbock, TX, and Aldersgate United Methodist Church in Abilene, TX. He and Peggy have been members of Wylie United Methodist Church in Abilene, TX, since 2006.
Jarrell was passionate about church missions. Jarrell and Peggy volunteered as adult sponsors for several youth missions' trips, but God called Jarrell to even deeper service after a 1995 flood relief mission trip to Missouri. Jarrell followed God's call and ultimately organized and led ten Missions Teams from different churches to a remote area of Costa Rica to provide needed medical and vision treatment, and aid in church construction. Many members of these teams then were led to form their own Mission teams.
Jarrell was an avid hunter, fisherman, and woodworker. He always enjoyed the company of his family, dear friends, and his faithful companion Boots the little Boston. He loved watching Texas Tech football with Rodney, eating his daughter-in-law Rhonda Young's cooking, hearing about Linda's wild travel adventures, and spending time with his granddaughters and great-grandchildren. But most of all, he enjoyed spending every day with Peggy.
He is survived by Peggy, his beloved wife of 65 years; his son Rodney Young, Jr. and wife Rhonda; his daughter Linda; granddaughters Robyn Young Sharp and husband John Sharp, and Rebekah Young Raux-Sumrall and husband Patrick Sumrall; and great-grandchildren Luke Sharp, Scarlett Sharp, Riley Raux, Owen Sumrall, and Parker Kate Sumrall; his sisters Mary Runkles and Barbara Grimes; and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Charles and Lucile Young; and his sisters Sara Stroud and Judy Peterson.
The family wishes to thank Dr. Anton Melnyk for his years of care, Texas Oncology, and Hospice of the Big Country.
Services will be at Wylie United Methodist Church, 3430 Antilley Road, Abilene, TX at 10:00a.m. on Wednesday, November 7, 2018 with burial following in Elliott-Hamil Garden of Memories Cemetery. Visitation will be 6 to 8 pm Tuesday evening at Elliott-Hamil Funeral Home, 5701 US Hwy 277 South.
Pallbearers will be John Sharp, Patrick Sumrall, Jack Darnell, Dennis Miller, Dave Roberts, and Richard Arthur. Honorary pallbearers will be Wiley Wise, Dave Collins, Gale Cheatham, Don Lunday, and Darrell Watkins.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Gideons International, Box 2882, Abilene, TX 79604.
