Co-founder of Young’s Jersey Dairy dies at 91

The community is mourning the loss of a lifelong entrepreneur, business owner and farmer.

Carl W. Young, 91, died at home on Sunday, March 29.

He was a co-founder of Young’s Jersey Dairy, former owner of Stocksdale’s restaurant in Springfield and founder of Carl & Dorothy Young’s Christmas tree farm.

“He taught a great work ethic to many employees who worked for him for over 50 years,” Carl’s son, Ben Young said. “He really enjoyed giving back to the community and enjoyed working outdoors and farming.”

>>History of Young's Jersey Dairy

Carl Young grew up on the family farm, purchased by his father Hap Young. In 1958, Carl Young and his two brothers, Bob and Bill, began selling their Jersey milk, Ben explained.

A few years later, they built their first real dairy store and Young’s Jersey Dairy grew from there.

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Carl Young and his late wife, Dorothy, purchased Stocksdale’s restaurant in 1979 and served home-cooked meals for 15 years.

“The loss of an individual like Carl Young is an substantial loss to our community,” David Weidner, a family friend and former employee said. “Carl spent his entire life building a business and giving back. That’s what the Young family is continuing to do today.”

He also established Carl & Dorothy Young’s Christmas tree farm.

“Not only did he plant Christmas trees, he has a walnut tree plantation,” Ben Young said. “That is one of the larger walnut tree plantations in the state of Ohio.”

In 2002, Carl and Dorothy Young were honored by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources as Ohio Woodland Owners of the year.

“He helped carve out that environment where people could access agriculture and farming and tie it into heritage - which is such an important part of our region,” Yellow Springs Council President Brian Housh said.

“He was a pioneer, an innovator and a mentor in the forest community,” Sarah Wickham, Chief of Communications for the Ohio Department of Natural Resources said. “He will be dearly missed. We appreciate his passion for responsible ecological management, and we thank him for all he did to keep Ohio beautiful.”

Carl Young was a graduate of Ohio State University and a recipient of the Distinguished Alumni Award. He served during the Korean conflict in the Counter Intelligence Corps, at 4th Army Headquarters, San Antonio, Texas.

“He enjoyed his family and he enjoyed traveling,” Ben Young said. “He enjoyed being a mentor to those that also wanted to get into business.”

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Carl Young was also a 70 year member of Yellow Springs Lodge #421 Free and Accepted Masons.

He was preceded in death by his wife Dorothy, his brother Bob and daughter Maureen. His survivors include sons Blair (Meg) of Worcester, Massachusetts, Brian (Tina) of Port Orange, Florida, Ben (Pam) of Yellow Springs, Matthew of Cedarville, nine grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren and brother Bill (Rita) of Yellow Springs, according to his obituary on Littleton & Rue Funeral Home’s website.

The family will hold a private remembrance, according to his obituary.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Natural Areas and Preserves.

“While Carl isn’t with us physically anymore, the roots and memories of the work that he did to establish what’s there now is deeply rooted into the community, state and region,” Weidner said.

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