Charles Wendell Young of Albuquerque, New Mexico passed away November 27, 2017 at the University of New Mexico Hospital. Formerly of Staunton, Virginia, Wendell had lived in New Mexico for a period of less than three months. He was born December 7, 1927 in Augusta County, near Staunton, the son of William F. Young Sr. and Annie Hamilton Young. He graduated from Greenbrier Military School in Lewisburg, W. Virginia, after which he attended and graduated from Westminster College in Westminster, Maryland. He attended Pratt Institute receiving a degree in Interior Design and a Commission in the U.S. Army Reserve. He served in Korea, returned to Virginia and married Joan Mills of Long Island, N.Y. Before divorcing, he and Joan for a number of years conducted a business in Staunton, providing interior design and decorating to their clientele.

Wendell moved to San Francisco, California where he met and married Carol Harmerlink. He and Carol formed C.W. Young Associates, conducting the business from their home in Paso Robles, California. After Wendell's retirement, they moved to Fairfield, Iowa. Carol bore Wendell one child, Kaycee Young, currently residing in San Francisco, California. He and Carol were separated by divorce and Wendell subsequently returned to Staunton and lived for over two years in the Big Sky Apartments where he delighted in having potted examples of native and tropical plants.