Willard Cooper “Pete” Young, 91, died January 28, 2021 after a brief illness. He was born February 26, 1929, in Campwood, Texas, to Willie (Willis) D. Young and Eliza Louetta Smith Young.
Preceding him in death are his beloved wife, Ethel Jeanette Graef Young, his parents, his sister Mildred Woodward, and his brothers Bud, Jim and William. He is survived by his sons, Dr. Keith Allen Young (Barbara) of Belton and Bruce Edmund Young (Carrie) of Wimberley, his grandchildren, Aynsley Kay Young of Dallas, Dr. Carson Claire Moczygemba of Hutto, Dr. Hadley Kay Young of Temple, Cooper Alec Young of Wimberley, Brentyn Allen Young of San Antonio, his great-granddaughter Adelyn Jade Moczygemba of Hutto, and his brothers Jack Young of Georgetown and Leonard Young of Austin.
As a young child growing up in Liberty Hill, Texas, Pete suffered from asthma. His father told him that he would need to rely on his mind because he would not be able to keep up in labor intensive jobs. Pete took that advice to heart and lived a life dedicated to learning and teaching. Ultimately, Pete outgrew his asthma and became an avid athlete and outdoorsman.
The Young family suffered through many hardships in the 30’s and 40’s due to the deprivations of the Great Depression and Willis’s chronic illnesses, but they persevered and kept the family together. They lived in over 26 places before Pete was 18 in South, Central and West Texas, including Texon, Kenedy, Gillett, Marble Falls, Austin, Big Spring and Liberty Hill, where the Young children attended Concord School. Eventually, they settled in Center Point, Texas, in order to be near the Kerrville VA Hospital where their father was being treated and later worked. After attending grade and junior high school, playing basketball and graduating from Center Point High School, Pete worked a variety of jobs in the mining and oil industry in West Texas and New Mexico before enlisted in the army in 1950, where he was briefly stationed at Fort Hood, Texas before deploying to Germany as a cook. With the help of the GI Bill, Pete attended the University of Texas at Austin, receiving a Bachelor of Science degree in 1956 and becoming the first in his family to graduate from college. During this time, he met Jeanette Graef, and they were married in Creedmoor, Texas on January 28, 1956, one day after his graduation.
The next day, January 29, Pete and Jeanette loaded up their car and drove to Dayton, Texas, where Pete taught science at Dayton High School and eventually served as Vice Principal. He pursued his Master of Science degree in Zoology from the University of Texas during the summer, returning to Dayton to teach during the fall and winter. After the birth of his sons Keith and Bruce in Dayton, Pete moved the family to Boulder, Colorado to work on his PhD at the University of Colorado. While in Colorado, Pete began his lifetime love of walking as he hiked through the St. Vrain watershed sampling alpine lakes for new species of Hydracarina, the mighty Water Mite. After obtaining his PhD degree in 1967, Pete moved to San Marcos, Texas to teach biology at Southwest Texas State University. He and his colleagues in the department developed one of nation’s best academic and field programs in Aquatic Biology. During his tenure at SWT, Pete served as Head of the Aquatic Station, Department Chairman, Dean of Science, and acting Vice-president for Academic Affairs. Recognizing his contributions over his many years of service to the University after his retirement in 1990, Dr Young was awarded the title of Professor Emeritus in 1991. In addition to his love of reading Russian and other literature, Pete loved to be outside. The happiest times in his life were the summers spent traveling with his family while visiting parks and landmarks across the US and Canada. Around San Marcos, he was known to his friends and neighbors as “The Walker”, and he could be encountered on any street or country lane around town during his daily 12+ mile walks. By his own accounting, he walked over 120,000 miles during the last forty years of his life, approximately 4-5 times around the globe. During his daily walks, he collected approximately 4,000 lug nuts, 42 telephones and 2 sets of dentures. His last walk was across Franklin and a few hundred yards up the hill to the San Marcos Cemetery to talk with Jeanette, who he joined last week on their 65th wedding anniversary.
While family and friends will miss his dry wit and stubborn independence, we were all inspired by his devotion to family and his dedication to science, education and learning.
In lieu of flowers, the family request memorial contributions be made to The Meadows Center for Water and the Environment, San Marcos, Texas 78666 or by phone at 512.245.2395.
A private graveside service took place Sunday, February 7 at the San Marcos City Cemetery. Arrangements were under the direction of Thomason Funeral Home. For more information and to sign the online registry, please visit thomasonfuneralhome.com.
