Dave and Ginny Young

Dave, born just outside London in 1944, whilst his dad was stationed in Italy with the Canadian Army, moved with his mom to the Lake District of England as the Nazis were employing their V1/2 rockets on the city.  After living in Canada and England for several years they moved to Ashland, Virginia, where they operated a dairy farm.  Who would have thought that selling a bull calf would lead to meeting his wife (Ginny) of 54 years. There is a story worth telling about the calf sale if you’re ever interested.  

Ginny also grew up in Ashland.  Knowing each other from the 6th grade led to dating in high school and through college--Dave at Virginia Tech (then VPI) in the Corps of Cadets and Ginny at Radford University (an “all-ladies” school in the 60’s).  Dave earned a Business Administration degree and Ginny one in Home Economics Education.  They married in June 1967.  Dave later acquired a Master’s in Management from Central Michigan University. 

Departing Virginia in 1967, they spent 29 years in the United States Air Force with Ginny setting up 28 households/kitchens whilst Dave had five tours in Vietnam and multiple flying, command, and staff assignments across the U.S., Thailand, and Guam.  Ginny tracked two North Dakota assignments by the number of winters (How does 45 degrees below with a chill factor of minus 109 degrees catch you?).  With Dave’s multiple deployments and time away from home, Ginny held down the home front while raising two boys who have produced five grandchildren. In Dave’s various command positions she was responsible for the welfare of the families in the organization which, in essence, was a full-time job.  “Two for the price of one” as they say in the military.  Although challenging, Ginny was on occasion able to work as a teacher and in a variety of other jobs.  Being a military wife means short notice moves across the country, uprooting kids from school, celebrating Christmas in April, parenting alone, living in multiple homes in one year and accepting your husband is involved in risky situations. Ask her about her experience at Chicago O’Hare airport one Christmas.

The Air Force was followed by 20 years at Liberty University with Dave as the VP of Finance and Administration, the university Chief Operating Officer, the dean of the School of Aeronautics and president of Freedom Aviation.  Retiring from LU in 2017, Dave remains active in aviation with the Lynchburg Regional Airshow organization as well as other aviation entities.  He serves as an elder at Rivermont Evangelical Presbyterian Church and enjoys reading, flying his airplane and exercising.  He has served on various boards and in organizations such as Rotary, United Way, Toastmasters, various Chambers of Commerce, Civil Air Patrol, and the Order of Daedalians. 

Ginny golfs, loves her daily walks, cross stitching, Bible studies and like Dave, consumes books at a rapid rate. They find pleasure in spending time boating and at their condo at Smith Mountain Lake.  Both enjoy traveling, particularly in Europe, although COVID has curtailed immediate travel plans.  Staying involved with children and grandchildren take a high priority.