Obituary of Richard L. Young

Richard “Dick” L. Young, 85, of Chadwicks, NY passed away peacefully at home on September 21, 2025. Born in Rome, NY on December 26, 1939, he was the son of George Young and Rose Kern Young. Dick was united in marriage to Suzanne Burns with whom he had his children Rick, Mark and Kim. He later married Gail Wolanin and together they had Melissa and Megan.

Dick was employed by the former Allen’s Hardware store, he then worked at Owens-Pavlot Funeral Home and he was later employed and retired from the Clinton Manor Apartments where he worked in maintenance. He always kept things running smoothly and was a welcome presence to the many residents there. He was a gifted craftsman and made many beautiful gifts for friends and family; he was especially talented with woodworking, many of his pieces will be cherished memories.

Dick was the youngest Fire Chief in Oneida County at the time he served, from 1967-1972. The Clinton Fire Department held a special place in Dick’s heart, and he was a proud member from 1958-2025. His passion and dedication to the department made him well respected by the members of CFD along with the community they served. In his time with the CFD many progressive programs were implemented thanks to his tenacity for safety, leadership, and dedication. Dick received numerous awards and honors over the years for his service, including Bravery in Saving a Life. He left an amazing legacy within his fire department.

Dick had much to be proud of in his lifetime; but he was proudest of his role as “Bompa”. His grandchildren were a great joy, and he had a gift for making each grandchild feel special and loved. He will be greatly missed by all of them.

Dick is survived by his wife Gail Wolanin-Young; his sons Dex Young; Mark (Lori) Young; daughters Kim Young, Melissa Young, and Megan Young (Jesse); grandchildren Becky (Mike) Reeves, Brittany (John) McConnell, Troy (Bree) Young, Stephanie, Lindsay (Erik) Gallagher, Nicholas Johns; great grandchildren Camerin, Mollie, Walker, Ryan, Avery, Sean, Alissia and Addie.

The family would also like to extend deep gratitude to caregivers Kylie Mazurowski, Lily Stoltzfus and Mallory Henderson. With special thanks to Mallory for the additional support during Dick’s last days.

Friends and family are invited to call on Friday September 26, 2025, from 3:00-6:00pm at Owens-Pavlot & Rogers Funeral Service. A funeral service will follow at 6:00 pm.

Donations can be made to the Clinton Fire Department, PO Box 134, Clinton, NY 13323.