Charles Ernest (Ernie) Young, died of natural causes on April 20, 2020. He was one of the last of the greatest generation. Ernie lived the last year of his life at the Pacific Care nursing home in Hoquiam and his family is very grateful for the care the nurses and aids gave him. He was born in Aberdeen on Dec. 20, 1926, to Andy Young and Edna Dickgieser Young. He attended McDermoth and Miller Jr. High schools in Aberdeen but the family relocated to Bremerton during WW II where his father was the fire chief at the Navy Yard. Ernie graduated from Bremerton H.S. in 1944. Upon graduation, the 17-year-old Ernie promptly joined the Coast Guard where he served in the Pacific amphibious forces aboard the USS LST 763 in the Philippines during WW II. He was injured onboard during a typhoon but remained on the ship until the end of the war. He was very proud to have served his country and always said that he would gladly serve again. He wore his LST 763 hat every day the last year of his life in the nursing home.

In 1957 he became one of the original owners of the Harbor Lanes Bowling alley and this is where in 1960, he met the love of his life, JoJean Maynard. After too many nights away from his family he sold his share in the bowling alley and became a meat cutter, working first for Swanson’s and then for Safeway until his retirement in 1990.

In retirement, Ernie enjoyed traveling taking trips with JoJean to Europe, Hong Kong, Hawaii and Mexico, but their favorite place was their vacation home in Palm Springs where they made numerous great friends from Wisconsin. He also enjoyed fishing with his son John, walking every day with JoJean, and entertaining his granddaughters with war stories. His favorite story was how while on leave from the Coast Guard, he was able to ride the train from New York to Bremerton with only 35 cents in his pocket!

Ernie was a lifetime member of the DAV, VFW and a 50+ year member of the Hoquiam Eagles. He was an avid Seattle Seahawks and Mariners fan.

Ernie and JoJean celebrated their 59th wedding anniversary on April 15th. She will greatly miss holding his hand every evening while watching their favorite TV shows together.

In addition to being survived by his wife at the family home in Aberdeen, he is survived by his brothers Wilbert Young of Washington DC, and Walter Young of Kenmore. Also, his children, John Young of Aberdeen and Gina Chacon (husband Mark) of Seattle, granddaughters, Gabriela and Rachel Chacon, brother-in-law, William Maynard (wife Nancy) and numerous nieces and nephews.