Charles 'Chuck' Young, dedicated firefighter

Charles “Chuck” A. Young, 71, of Bethany Beach, formerly of Wilmington, passed away Thursday, June 4, 2015, at Beebe Healthcare in Lewes.

Chuck was born in Philadelphia, Pa., December 18, 1943, and was raised in Drexel Hill, Pa., son of the late Leland F. and Virginia H. (Mann) Young. He graduated from Bonner High School in 1961, and attended Temple University. Chuck loved sports and played both football and baseball. He also proudly served his country from 1963-65 in the U.S. Army in the Counter Intelligence Corps in Orleans, France.

After his discharge from the Army, he worked as a sales engineer with Mine Safety Appliances (MSA). In 1982 he married Diane M. Young and spent 28 years together until her passing in 2009. Chuck started his own property management company, and owned and managed a number of small apartment buildings in the Wilmington area. He was a co-founder of the Greater Wilmington Housing Providers, an association of property managers.

Since 1969, he had been a volunteer firefighter and EMT with Talleyville Fire Company and currently with the Bethany Beach Volunteer Fire Company, where he held the position of fire police officer. Through the years, he held several fire and administration offices in the fire company.

In 1993, he built a home in Bethany Beach and retired there full time in 2005. Chuck enjoyed working with his neighbors on several committees, and also served on the board of directors of the Salt Pond Community in Bethany Beach.

In the past few years he has been blessed to have his faithful companion Mary Putschky by his side. He is also survived by two nephews, Lee and Steve Kowalski; and a grandniece, Shannon Kowalski.

A visitation will be held from 10 a.m. to noon, Tuesday, June 9, with a funeral service and firemen’s honors at noon at the Bethany Beach Volunteer Fire Company, 215 Hollywood St., Bethany Beach. Interment will be held privately at a later date at the Delaware Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Millsboro.

Chuck requested no flowers; however contributions in his name may be made to the Bethany Beach Volunteer Fire Company, PO Box 950, Bethany Beach, DE 19930.

Online condolences may be sent by visiting www.melsonfuneralservices.com