Joseph C. Young, Jr.

Joseph C. Young Jr.

August 16,1936 Sunrise

April 8, 2023 Sunset

As a young man Joe grew up in segregated Mt Pisgah, North Carolina. He was 16 when he graduated from High School as Valedictorian of his class. He attended South Carolina's AT&T Technical College for 2 years and then moved to Cincinnati, Ohio in 1956. He was hired at General Electric Co. in Evendale, Ohio as a junior engineer. He attended the University of Cincinnati where he received an Honorary BS degree in Physics and Mathematics.

He was married in Cincinnati to Omelia Cook in 1959. In 1960 he moved his family to Columbus, Ohio after accepting a job at Rockwell International as a Nuclear Physicist. He was challenged on every turn because of his race and his ability to outsmart many of his co-workers. Joe was always the over-achiever and became known around the job as "Mighty Joe Young". At Rockwell Joe was a project Engineer on the "B1 Bomber" and a lead engineer on the "Hellfire Missile". The "Hellfire Missile" is an air to ground weapon and was used to win the war in Vietnam.

When things got to be a mental challenge, he found his way to a small church called Columbus Bibleway in Southfield, (pastor) Dr. William Talley III, where he learned about Jesus and received the Holy Spirit and joined the church. Dr Talley saw in Joe talents that could be used to help in building up Gods' Kingdom. Joe soon became a Sunday School teacher, then superintendent of the Sunday School. Later he became Treasurer and then a Deacon. There was nothing that Joe set his mind to that he did not accomplish.

In 1987, Rockwell laid off managers to cut their costs before the company moved to California. Joe was included in the layoff. He was home a few weeks and just didn't know what to do with himself. He decided to go back to school and get a Masters degree in Business. He prayed and asked God to open the door to the college that would help him as he only had one year to be unemployed with 4 children and a wife at home. His final choice was Xavier University thru Ohio Dominican. The professor said it would be impossible to acquire a degree in another discipline without pre-requisites and at least another year if you really applied yourself. The University gave him a chance and he graduated Summa Cum Laude in 1 year. Joe was rehired by Rockwell until the company relocated to California. Joe retired a few years later.

In 1997 Joe and his family joined The New Covenant Believers' Church with Bishop Howard Tillman (pastor). For 22 years Joe was an active member and participated in church ministries. Joe was a man of faith. He believed that if we trust and obey Gods' word, we will see results.

Joseph is survived by his loving and devoted wife Omelia Young with 63 years of marriage. 4 children: Cynthia (Michael), Joseph K. Young Ill, Karen Gary (Greg), Kimberly Bodrick (Dwayne). 8 grandchildren: Kevin Rucker, Travon Bodrick, Adam Bodrick, Fatima Bodrick, Brooklyn Gary, Crystal Goodrich, Stephanie Young and Joseph Young IV. 1 great grandchild Zayden Rucker. 2 brothers Bob Young (Jackie) and Winston Young and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, family and friends. He was preceded in death by his mom Essie Young, father Joseph Young II, sisters Joanne Cash, Sarah Matthews and Evelyn Bush.

Service will be held at New Covenant Believers Church, 3400 Kohr Blvd, Columbus Ohio 43224