Gaddis Sug Young

Gaddis Sug Young, age 90, of Marietta received his Christmas present of eternal life on December 25, 2014. Funeral Services will be held at 1 pm on Tuesday, December 30 at GracePointe Marietta with Rev. Mike Faulkner officiating. He will lie in state at the church one hour prior to the service. Interment will follow at Cheatham Hill Memorial Park.

Born to the late C.L. Young and Effie Waller Young on April 9, 1924, he grew up on the family farm in Griffin, GA during the Great Depression years. He was the baby of five sons and two daughters (who died in early childhood). Later his family moved to Austell, GA where a neighbor sponsored him to attend Martha Berry Boy’s School in Rome.

Following in the footsteps of his two brothers, Tommy and Charles, he enlisted in the Army Air Corps in 1942 at age 17 to become a veteran of WWII. He first trained at AAFIS Sioux Falls to become a radio operator and mechanic.

He served as a staff sergeant in the 97th squadron 440th Troop Carrier Group of the Army Air Forces. He was a radio operator using Morse Code on a plane known as Buzzard Bait. He served in the following WWII battles and campaigns: Rome Arno Rhine laid Ardennes Gob40WD45, Normandy GO 33 WD45, Northern France, Southern France and Central Europe GO46WD45. His plane was shot down in occupied Holland during Operation Market Garden on Sept, 17, 1944. He received the Distinguished Unit Badge, European African Middle Eastern Theater with one Silver Star and two Bronze Stars, the Air Medal with one Oak Leaf Cluster and Good Conduct Medal. He was proud of his marksmanship medals. He served for three and half years. He was preparing to leave for the Pacific when the war ended.

Following the war he completed FBI school, graduated from Atlanta School of Law with a LLB degree and was employed by Lockheed Aircraft for seven and half years.

Gaddis was a salesman at heart. At the early age of eight, he sometimes drove the family produce truck to sale and deliver vegetables. He was a sales clerk when he decided to join the war effort. Later he and his wife helped his father run a small grocery store in Marietta. He ran a hamburger joint and was working at Sears and Roebuck selling refrigerators when he met the love of his life, the late Rasmond Dobbs Young of Fair Oaks. They dated for four weeks before becoming engaged and were married two weeks later. They remained married for 58 1/2 years until Ras’s death.

Gaddis’ sales career continued from selling groceries and appliances and working in the poultry business in Hiawassee with his brother CL to selling cars at Kelly Motors and later Anderson Motors. He received many awards for his high sales including membership in the All-Dodge Key club in 1961, for showing the highest degree of integrity. Around 1963 he began his thirty two year career as a State Farm Agent where he made many long lasting friends through his customers and co-workers. With his wife working hard by his side he worked hard to win many high sales awards and trips throughout his career in the Smyrna and Cobb areas.

Gaddis served as a deacon at Crestview Baptist church in Marietta whose members are now known as GracePointe Marietta. He was an active member serving on many committees until his health declined. Other organizations he has served throughout the years as a Cobb County resident include: president of the PTA at McEachern, active band parent volunteer, The West Cobb Lion’s Club, Kiwanis Club, Kennesaw Masonic Lodge No.33 , 8oclock Civitan club and the Shriner’s Lodge.

He is preceded in death by his older siblings: Johnny, C. L., Jr, Thomas, Charles and two infant sisters.

He leaves behind his only daughter, Virginia Carole Young Medford and his beloved son-in-law Gary Lee Medford. He also leaves his two granddaughters, Rebekah Virginia and Madison Lee Medford whom he cherished dearly. He is also survived by one niece, Linda Gail Young and two great nephews and several great-great nieces and nephews.

Contributions can be made to GracePointe Marietta, 505 Atlanta Street, Marietta, GA 30060, Georgia Baptist Children’s Home at www.gbchfm.org or the Georgia Chapter of Alzheimer’s Association at www.alz.org .

The family will receive friends on Monday, December 29 from 2 until 4 pm and 6 until 8 pm at West Cobb Funeral Home and Crematory, 2480 Macland Road, Marietta, GA 30064. Online guestbook www.westcobbfuneralhome.com .