March 30, 2020 at 5:09 p.m.
Gretchen Young
Obituary
Gretchen Louise Schultze Young, originally from Portland, Indiana, passed away peacefully in Zionsville, Indiana, on March 26, 2020.
She was born on Feb. 9, 1935, in Dayton, Ohio, and was the daughter of Jeannette (Reinicke) and Harold E. Schultze, previously deceased.
Gretchen’s proudest accomplishment was her family. She is survived by her husband of 62 years, John G. Young; daughters Rebecca H. (Phil) Walsh, Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania; Melissa (Kevin) Schmidt, Zionsville, Indiana; Jennifer (Dave) Liles, Milford, Ohio; and son David (Amy McClung) Young, Chattanooga, Tennessee. She is also survived by 14 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren, as well as a sister, Carolyn (Ed) Hepp, Jackson, Michigan.
Gretchen and John met at Earlham College in Richmond, Indiana, when she was a freshman and he was a junior. John’s sister, Rebecca Young Strohl (husband: Lowell) was eventually Gretchen’s roommate at Earlham, and can be credited with introducing them to one another.
Gretchen graduated from Earlham in 1957 with a bachelor’s degree in biology. The couple married on June 22, 1957, in Dayton, Ohio, at Shroyer Road Baptist Church. They first lived in San Antonio, Texas, where Gretchen taught in the public school system and John was stationed with the U.S. Army.
They returned to Jay County following the completion of John’s military service and Gretchen continued her career by teaching biology, math and physical education in the Portland school system.
In addition to her family, Gretchen also dedicated much of her time to the community. She served as a member of the Portland Foundation Board of Directors where she led an effort to professionalize the foundation’s scholarship process. She was also a member of both Tri-Kappa and the Plant, Hoe and Hope Garden Club.
She was proud of her second generation German heritage and was raised in a German Baptist Church in Dayton, Ohio. After the couple was married, she became active in John’s home church, the First Presbyterian Church of Portland. She sang in the church choir and served as an Elder and as Clerk of Session. As a church leader, she was instrumental in starting its Early Childhood Program.
Gretchen loved art and nature and was well versed in flowers, trees, birds and home and garden design. An important expression of her love of these areas could be seen in her paintings. Many hours were spent participating in painting lessons at Arts Place in Portland where she also served as a member of the board of directors and as its chair. Not only did she create beauty in her painting, she was a prolific needle pointer, cross-stitcher and knitter. Many of her family members received one of her creations.
There will be no calling or service at this time. A service to celebrate Gretchen’s life will be held at a later date. Memorials can be made to The Portland Foundation, Arts Place, Earlham College or First Presbyterian Church of Portland.
Condolences may be expressed at bairdfreeman.com.
She was born on Feb. 9, 1935, in Dayton, Ohio, and was the daughter of Jeannette (Reinicke) and Harold E. Schultze, previously deceased.
Gretchen’s proudest accomplishment was her family. She is survived by her husband of 62 years, John G. Young; daughters Rebecca H. (Phil) Walsh, Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania; Melissa (Kevin) Schmidt, Zionsville, Indiana; Jennifer (Dave) Liles, Milford, Ohio; and son David (Amy McClung) Young, Chattanooga, Tennessee. She is also survived by 14 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren, as well as a sister, Carolyn (Ed) Hepp, Jackson, Michigan.
Gretchen and John met at Earlham College in Richmond, Indiana, when she was a freshman and he was a junior. John’s sister, Rebecca Young Strohl (husband: Lowell) was eventually Gretchen’s roommate at Earlham, and can be credited with introducing them to one another.
Gretchen graduated from Earlham in 1957 with a bachelor’s degree in biology. The couple married on June 22, 1957, in Dayton, Ohio, at Shroyer Road Baptist Church. They first lived in San Antonio, Texas, where Gretchen taught in the public school system and John was stationed with the U.S. Army.
They returned to Jay County following the completion of John’s military service and Gretchen continued her career by teaching biology, math and physical education in the Portland school system.
In addition to her family, Gretchen also dedicated much of her time to the community. She served as a member of the Portland Foundation Board of Directors where she led an effort to professionalize the foundation’s scholarship process. She was also a member of both Tri-Kappa and the Plant, Hoe and Hope Garden Club.
She was proud of her second generation German heritage and was raised in a German Baptist Church in Dayton, Ohio. After the couple was married, she became active in John’s home church, the First Presbyterian Church of Portland. She sang in the church choir and served as an Elder and as Clerk of Session. As a church leader, she was instrumental in starting its Early Childhood Program.
Gretchen loved art and nature and was well versed in flowers, trees, birds and home and garden design. An important expression of her love of these areas could be seen in her paintings. Many hours were spent participating in painting lessons at Arts Place in Portland where she also served as a member of the board of directors and as its chair. Not only did she create beauty in her painting, she was a prolific needle pointer, cross-stitcher and knitter. Many of her family members received one of her creations.
There will be no calling or service at this time. A service to celebrate Gretchen’s life will be held at a later date. Memorials can be made to The Portland Foundation, Arts Place, Earlham College or First Presbyterian Church of Portland.
Condolences may be expressed at bairdfreeman.com.
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