Ralph Young, now a centenarian, has lived through war, personal loss, and major world changes — and still offers wisdom about leading a long and fulfilling life, especially when faced with hardships or surprises.
Born and raised in Kentucky, Young was the youngest of 11 siblings. His childhood home lacked basic utilities like electricity and running water. However, the family had a garden and preserved their own food, which they sold in their small community of Greasy Ridge. Life was tough, but it was a foundation that built resilience in him from a young age.
At just 10 years old, Young found himself taking on major responsibilities. His mother suffered a stroke that left her with limited mobility, and his father handed him the task of handling the household laundry and meals. He describes this as his first job, which required carrying heavy loads of laundry and washing clothes by hand in a nearby spring.
Despite the demands, Young remembers those times fondly because they brought him closer to his mother. “With all that time together, my mother and I got close,” he recalled.
In 1943, when Young was 18, he made a pivotal decision to enlist in the U.S. Navy, choosing to sign up before receiving a draft notice. His service took him into the heart of World War II. Saying goodbye to his family was a moment he still remembers vividly. “I remember my mom sitting on the front porch, tears streaming down her cheeks,” he told Dayton Daily News. “She told me, ‘Everything is going to be alright, Ralph.’ I knew she was going to watch over me.”
Sadly, while Young was overseas serving his country, his mother passed away. It was a deeply emotional loss for someone who had shared such a close bond with her.
After the war ended, Young was discharged from the Navy in 1946. The following year, he returned home and married Charlotte, his first wife. Together, they had three children and built a life that took them on journeys far from the humble beginnings of Greasy Ridge.
By the mid-1950s, global electrification efforts were ramping up, and the engineering company Young worked for needed someone to lead a critical international project. The assignment was to help develop a power system in Thailand, and Young saw it as a great adventure. He wasn’t the only one enthusiastic about the move. “Charlotte was as eager to go as I was,” he said.
The family spent several years living in Asia, including time in Indonesia due to another job posting. Even after returning to the United States, Young’s career kept him on the move, taking him to countries like Saudi Arabia and Iran. He remained active in his profession until he officially retired at the age of 70.
In 2000, Charlotte began showing signs of serious illness. She was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, and Young stayed by her side until she passed away in 2006, six years after her diagnosis. Her death was a heavy blow, and Young was 81 at the time.
The loss led him into a period of reflection and deep sorrow. He questioned whether life held anything more for him. But rather than giving in to grief, he found strength through faith and purpose. “Always have something to do. That’s what has helped me,” he shared. “My faith in God and my willingness to conquer anything I started.”
His life took an unexpected but joyful turn when he reconnected with a woman named Janice. They had known each other four decades earlier. After hearing about Charlotte’s passing, Janice reached out to offer comfort. “I understand,” she wrote — she had lost her husband just five months before Charlotte’s death.
That simple message reopened a meaningful connection. Janice eventually invited Young to join her for Christmas. From there, the two started spending more time together and having frequent conversations. Their bond deepened, and it wasn’t long before they chose to marry and start a new chapter of life together.
Reflecting on his extraordinary journey, Young said, “You can do a lot of things you don’t think you can do.”
From a childhood spent cooking and washing laundry in rural Kentucky to traveling the world as an engineer, from losing his mother while at war to losing his wife to Alzheimer’s, Ralph Young’s century of life is a testament to endurance, optimism, and the human ability to rebuild. Through every twist and turn, he’s lived by the principle of staying active, nurturing faith, and embracing every new opportunity.