ROBERT GERDEN YOUNG, known to most as "Bob," of Las Cruces, New Mexico, passed away surrounded by family and under the tender care of La Posada-Mesilla Valley Hospice, on Sunday, April 14, 2024, at the age of 93. Bob was born September 10, 1930, into a large family in Detroit, Michigan. A bit bored in the traditional classroom setting, he attended the Henry Ford Trade School where he learned toolmaking alongside academic courses. He enlisted in the US Air Force at 17, and served in postwar Japan, the Korean conflict, and in Vietnam.

He met wife, Virginia née Redmond, then residing in San Francisco, shortly after returning from Korea and they married in California in September 1952. Together, they and their family, which grew to include four children, then lived in Washington State, Okinawa, Texas, Michigan, and Maryland, before Bob retired after 21 years of military service. He then worked for the Federal Government in Washington DC and Baltimore as a systems analyst, retiring for good in 1986. In 1989 he and Virginia arrived in the Land of Enchantment, making Las Cruces home. Here they took up square dancing and nurturing the treasured pecan trees on their property. Mission Lutheran Church was an important part of their life, and Bob was a great supporter of its school.

Bob was devoted to Virginia and enjoyed his ever-growing family tremendously, relishing being Dad, Grandpa, and Great Grandpa. He loved God, his country, Christmas, model trains, gadgets and yard equipment, Eddy Arnold music, old radio shows, westerns, and his Saint Bernards and Dachshund. He could build a deck with the best, planted many spectacular gardens, operated the quilting machine to finish Virginia's many beautiful creations, looked forward every week to breakfasting with his ROMEO crew, and was an avid Detroit Red Wings hockey fan to the end. He leaves behind his children, Wesley Young, Kathleen Hunt (Bob), Janet Smith, and Patricia McCaffrey (JP), 15 grandchildren, 12 great grandchildren, and his brother Stewart. He was preceded in death by Virginia, his beloved wife of 62 years, and his parents and 10 siblings.

A Funeral Service will be conducted by Pastor Andrew Cave at Mission Lutheran Church on Monday, June 17, 2024, at 11 AM with visitation at 10 AM         "And he died in a good old age, full of days, riches, and honor…" 1 Chron 29:28a

Bob's wish would be for those so inclined to donate to Mission Lutheran School.

Service arrangements have been entrusted to the care of Baca's Funeral Chapel of Las Cruces and Sunset Crematory, 300 E. Boutz Road, 527-2222. Your exclusive provider for "Veterans and Family Memorial Care." For online condolences logon to www.bacasfuneralchapelslascruces.com