Celebrant Pam Meily Vetter


	Celebrating Life Everyone Has A Story...

Forrest Walter Young was born in 1932, to Georgia and Forrest Young in White Plains, New York. Walt was raised with two sisters, Janet and Mary. When Walt was 10-years-old, his family moved to the San Fernando Valley, California, where he would spend the rest of his life.

Walt’s father taught him a strong work ethic from a young age and gave him a great appreciation for the outdoors. At a time when the Valley was filled with orange groves and wheat fields, Walt started work as a teenager on his own gardening route. He liked seeing trees grown naturally, a believer of selective pruning. This early knowledge would play into a lifetime love of landscaping.

In high school, Walt played football at Van Nuys High School, graduating in 1951. Walt met Laura, who was a year behind him in school at Van Nuys. In 1953, when Walt was drafted into the United States Army, he and Laura corresponded through the mail developing a deeper friendship. Walt spent one year and eight months stationed in Seoul, South Korea, working on communications. He also played football on the Army team. After serving his country, Walt proposed to Laura on Christmas Eve, 1954. The couple married on June 26, 1955.

Walt went on to earn a degree in Horticulture at Pierce Junior College, while Laura earned her degree in English at UCLA. Together, they bought their first home in Canoga Park. They welcomed three wonderful children into their lives: Laura, Paul and Wade.

Walt became a successful Landscape Contractor and earned his architects license in 1973, the same year they purchased their home in Northridge. As a Landscape Architect, Walt was influential in landscaping throughout Los Angeles and the San Fernando Valley. He loved his work, designing landscapes as far away as Palm Springs and San Diego. Walt was honored with many awards from the California Landscape Contractors Association (CLCA), where he had served as President in 1966. His work was also featured in prestigious publications such as Los Angeles Times Magazine and Better Homes and Gardens. Most recently, he was a member of the San Fernando Valley Beautification Project, sharing his vision for the ongoing maintenance of trees.

Throughout a wonderful career, Walt also made family his priority. He enjoyed activities such as snow skiing and water skiing with his family. He supported Laura’s early love of interior design and made a point to attend Paul’s basketball and Wade’s football games. He was especially proud of the educational achievements and success reached by each one of his children.

With his wife, Laura, they created a rare 53-year partnership that grew out of understanding and communication. They enjoyed traveling, cruises, and time spent with their beautiful grandchildren. Walt also had an active social life, followed his Los Angeles sports teams, and avidly practiced skiing, golf, and tennis throughout his life. The Annual Men’s Ski trip was an event that Walt loved for thirty years.

While we remember those who preceded him in death such as his parents; his sister, Janet; step-brother, Larry; and his best friend, Fred; we are also reminded that Walt Young was loved by many people in his life including his wife, Laura; daughter Laura and her husband Kurt Diesel; son Paul and his wife Nicole; son Wade; sister Mary and her husband John Davidson; grandchildren Alexis, Brandon, Marcus, and Megan; Uncle Ron Young and family of Maine; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins. Walt’s love reached beyond his family to friends and also extended to his children’s spouses Kurt and Nicole along with Alexis’ mother, Daveda.

Walt Young will be remembered as an energetic, creative man who loved life, his family and friends. He was always a positive thinker, looking on the bright side. His family will miss his optimism, cheerfulness, zest for life, and the sparkle he shared with everyone. His advice for everyone would be to enjoy life, think about what you have not what you don’t have, recognize the positive, and do the right thing. Memorial donations are welcome to the American Heart Association (www.AmericanHeart.org) or United Cerebral Palsy (www.ucp.org).