Obituary for William Colvin Young

August 5, 1944-October 30, 2024

Our beloved husband, uncle and brother, William Colvin Young (Bill), aged 80, passed away peacefully on October 30, 2024. Born on August 5,1944, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Bill was the first of eight children born to Bertha Brown Simon and Everett William Young. In his early childhood, Bill attended school in Hawaii while his father was a teacher and basketball coach at the Church College of Hawaii, and he then finished his formal education in Utah. Bill's lifelong love of knowledge made him an avid reader with a great mind for retaining facts and details.

Bill proudly served his country, first as a Marine trainee and later in the United States Army Reserve from 1962 to 1970. A devoted and lifelong member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Bill served as a missionary in the Northeast England Mission, as well as in many other leadership positions in the church throughout his life.

While attending Brigham Young University, Bill was an enthusiastic member and eventual president of the Sportsman Club, where he made lifelong friendships and cultivated his great love for the outdoors. Many of his summers were spent running rivers or supervising month-long survival programs in the Utah deserts.

In 1982, Bill married his sweetheart, Kathleen Elise Sandgren, in the Salt Lake Temple, with whom he shared over four decades of unwavering love and companionship. Although their union was not blessed with children of their own, Bill and Kathy welcomed two foster children into their hearts until the children were able to be reunited with their parents. Bill would often volunteer to go to camp as a "substitute dad," with boys who did not have fathers of their own and then served as camp cook, showcasing his well-earned reputation as a culinary expert—a skill for which he was rightfully proud and his family greatly appreciative.

For over 28 years, Bill served in various capacities as a temple worker, finding great fulfillment in this work. An avid family genealogist, Bill prepared thousands of family names for the temple, linking generations of his family together in faith and love. Those who knew him best had no doubt that he was greeted on the other side by concourses of family members grateful for the work he had done for them. In addition to his service at the temple, he and Kathy served several years at the Missionary Training Center, where they helped orient and train countless young missionaries as they prepared for their missions.

The majority of Bill's professional career was spent working in real estate and land development. He found immense satisfaction in driving through town, admiring the buildings and landscapes he helped shape, knowing he had contributed to his community's growth and beauty. His dedication to ensuring that everything in the finished project was "exactly right" was an important standard he set for himself and his work.

Known by many as "the Fixer," Bill was a problem solver at heart, always tackling difficult situations with determination. He took pride in getting things done, often stepping in to help in situations where others would not or sometimes could not help. Blessed with a big heart, Bill generously gave freely of his means and of his professional or personal advice assisting many friends, family members and even complete strangers who often took great measures to seek him out to thank him. His typical respond to their desire to renumerate him for his service was to let them know "he was just glad he could help." Bill was also a long-time member of the Utah Valley Rotary Club, where he was honored as a Paul Harris Fellow for his significant contributions.

Anyone who knew Bill, also knew that he had a tendency at times to "push the envelope." He loved telling stories about some of his antics and seemed to revel in the reactions they evoked often under the protest of either his wife, or one of his sisters. To which his typical response would be the shrug of a shoulder and the flash of a slightly crooked grin— remnant of the Bells Palsy he suffered as a young child. Yet, beneath this sometimes-lively exterior was a sensitive heart of gold, grounded in deep faith and conviction.

Bill was preceded in death by his parents Everett William and Bertha Brown Simon Young, and just recently by his brother-in-law, Dennis Dwayne Dillingham, who had been like a brother to him. He is survived by his wife, the love of his life, Kathleen Elise Sandgren and his seven siblings, Jacqueline Dillingham (Dennis), Christine Kitchen (David), Donna Young, Sally Marriott (Doug), Susan Young, Mark Young, Jon Young (Lee Ann).

Funeral services will take place on Wednesday, November 6, at 11:00 am at the Kolob Stake Center, located at 1230 S 500 E, Springville, Utah. A viewing will be held prior to the funeral from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m.

Contributions towards funeral expenses will be greatly appreciated and can be contributed through Venmo under the name of "Yungabunga" (no "o" in Yung. Account under the supervision of his sister, Donna Young).

* Bill was affectionately called "Youngabunga" in his younger days by friends who would drive by the house and call it out as they drove by--the name stuck for the whole family.