Educator was 'child magnet'

5/2/2006

PORT CLINTON - Elizabeth "Betty" Young, 89, who taught in Port Clinton schools for more than 30 years before retiring, died Saturday in the Otterbein-Northshore Retirement Community, Lakeside, Ohio, from complications of a fall.

Mrs. Young, who taught general subjects to mostly first graders and other grades at Jefferson Elementary School, retired in 1979 from the school where she spent most of her career.

"She taught for almost 40 years and many people here in town had her in their first-grade classes. She was known to be a fair teacher and very kind teacher," her son, Tom Young, said.

Born Elizabeth Pool into a prominent Port Clinton family, she was the daughter of Dr. Henry Pool, a well-known physician in the area who built a reputation as a community general practitioner, her son said.

Mrs. Young grew up in Port Clinton and graduated from Port Clinton High School before receiving her bachelor's degree in education from Ohio State University. She started her teaching career in the Port Clinton schools in 1939.

She married Kenneth Young on June 2, 1943.

"She loved children and related well with them. She was one of the most positive people you could ever meet. She always was able to find a silver lining in the most difficult circumstances," he son said.

An outdoor enthusiast, she enjoyed hiking and traveled a lot during her retirement. She especially enjoyed taking nature walks with her two dogs and was fascinated by plants, birds, and Lake Erie.

Even in retirement, she remained "a child magnet," her son said. "They naturally liked her because she was always very complimentary and looked for the good things in people."

A longtime Girl Scout and Cub Scout leader, Mrs. Young also was a member of the Port Clinton Yacht Club.

Surviving are her husband, Kenneth Young; daughter, Polly Young; son, Tom Young, and four grandchildren.

Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. today in the Gerner-Wolf-Walker Funeral Home. A memorial service will be at 10:30 a.m. tomorrow in St. John Lutheran Church.

The family suggests tributes to the Ottawa County Humane Society or the Alzheimer's Association.