Ralph E. Young, 84
Was longtime Westminster firefighter; enjoyed the outdoors

WESTMINSTER - Ralph E.Young, 84, of 46 West Main St., died at the Leo P. Lachance Center in Gardner after an illness.

He was born in Gardner on Jan. 26, 1923, the son of the late Ralph W. and Lois (Sawin) Young. He was a 1940 graduate of Fitchburg High School.

Mr. Young served in the U.S. Army Air Corps, during World War II, as a Sergeant repairing the Fighting Tiger Planes.

He worked at the Young Brothers Lumber Company and was a Westminster firefighter for 40 years, prior to his retirement in1986; he was the fire chief for 23 years.

Mr. Young was a long time member of the First Congregational Church of Westminster, the Hope Lodge in Gardner, the Harris Council, ALEPPO Shrine in Boston, and the Gardner Chapter of R.A.M., the Westminster Sportsmen's Club, the Westminster Rod and Gun Club. He was also a member of the Massachusetts Fire Fighters Association, the Fire Chiefs Association of Massachusetts, the Midstate Mutual Association, and the Friendship Club in Westminster. He was also a past member of the Westminster Historical Society. Mr. Young enjoyed hunting, fishing, traveling, and gardening.

He leaves his wife of 63 years, Eleanor F. (Pratt) Young; two daughters, Linda Pellerin of Milford, N.H. and Cathy Phelps of Westminster; one grandson, James Joseph Szabunka and two granddaughters, Lesley Szabunka and Emily Scalici; four greatgrandchildren; one brother, Harold (Pete) Young of Westminster; two sisters, Phyllis Henstridge of Westminster and Eunice Wiggins of Princeton; and several nieces, nephews and cousins.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made in Mr. Young's name to the Westminster Fire Rescue Fund, P.O. Box 640 Westminster, MA 01473.

The Westminster Chapel of the Sawyer-Miller-Masciarelli Funeral Home directed arrangements.