John Thomas Young

John Thomas Young passed from this life on Wednesday, August 15, 2012, at the St. Francis Hospital in Tulsa, Oklahoma at the age of 71 years. John was born in Phoenix, Arizona on April 17, 1941. He was the son of John Kenneth and Bertha Forest (Sizemore) Young. John moved to Hominy, Oklahoma with his family as a child and graduated from Hominy High School in 1959. He was an active part of the Hominy football team since the seventh grade. During his senior year of high school the offensive line was larger than the University of Oklahomaís and the town referred to them as the ìHamburger Lineî. John went to Austin College on a football scholarship and played for the Austin College Kangaroos lettering all four years. He was once featured in the Sherman Democrat with them stating ìthe only way to stop Young is to hold him.î During his tenure at Austin College, John was honorable mention on the All-Texas College team his sophomore year. Following his senior year John played at the Challenge Bowl which was made up of seniors from Texas and he was named to the All-Texas second team. In 1963, he married Jean Lewis of Midland, Texas and together they had three children. Following graduation with a business degree in 1964, John was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings where he played for a short time. He then took employment with Johnson and Johnson where he received several awards as a top salesman. In 1973, John bought the Sunoco Bulk Dealership in Hominy. On September 1, 1988, he married Virginia "Ginni" Louise (Benitz) Stendebach at the First Christian Church in Hominy, Oklahoma. In 1989, John and his lifelong friend, Tom Slamans, opened Metro Petroleum in Tulsa and John sold the Hominy business and moved to Tulsa in 1993. Following the sale of Metro in 2003, John fully retired. John had a passion for all kinds of bird hunting which took him to several states as well as abroad with his hunting buddies. He was also a Civil War and WW II buff and always enjoyed visiting the battle sites and museums. The past summers have found him spending time in Ruidoso, New Mexico or the mountains of Colorado. Johnís children and grandchildren were his life. He loved spending countless hours with them at his home as well as on vacations. His children remember their father instilling in them that hard work and perseverance could take you anywhere and that they should "earn their keep.î He liked to play dominoes and card games with friends and the grandchildren. John has been a member of Fellowship Lutheran Church for many years. Survivors are his loving wife Ginni of the home, five children Leslie Young of Hominy, Oklahoma, Ty Young and his wife Connie of Bartlesville, Oklahoma, Kelly Young and his wife Cheryl of Sand Springs, Oklahoma, Jon Stendebach and his wife Valerie of Tulsa, Oklahoma, Todd Stendebach and his wife Shari of Verdigris, Oklahoma; brother Ancil Davis and his wife Sue of Hominy, Oklahoma; seven grandchildren J.T., Christopher, Ashley, Daxton, Paige, Emersyn, Ian as well as a host of other relatives and friends. John was preceded in death by his father John Young and mother Bertha Tinsley. Memorial services will be held on Saturday, August 18, 2012 at 1:30 PM in the Fellowship Lutheran Church Sanctuary located at 6727 S. Sheridan Rd. in Tulsa with private family burial preceding the service at A. J. Powell Memorial Cemetery in Hominy, Oklahoma. In lieu of flowers the family has requested memorial donations be made to the church for playground equipment. You may visit www.flctulsa.org for further information about how to donate or by calling 918-492-3698. Funeral services are under the direction of Chapman-Black Funeral Home. Friends may share a memory with the family online at www.chapman-black.com