Obituary for Harold Younger

Harold Younger

July 30, 1935 – May 9, 2022

A great man has left this earth for his heavenly home. Harold Pierce Younger passed away Monday, May 9, 2022, and will be terribly missed by many in this city and by those he touched throughout this world. Visitation will be at Trout Funeral Home & Crematory on Friday, May 20 from 12:00 PM to 7:00 PM with the family present from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM. A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, May 21 at 10:00 AM at the First Presbyterian Church located at 1505 East Grand Avenue in Ponca City. The family invites all to join them immediately following the service in the Fellowship Hall. Those unable to attend the Funeral Ceremony, may attend virtually on the Trout Funeral Home website, www.troutfuneralhome.com and click on the live-stream or toolbar icon on the top right corner after 9:45 AM. Arrangements are under the direction of Trout Funeral Home & Crematory, 505 W. Grand Ave, Ponca City, OK 74601.

Harold was born in Ponca City on July 30, 1935, to Roy and Madonna Younger. He attended Ponca City Public Schools and graduated from Ponca City High School in 1954. Harold began his college education thereafter at Oklahoma State University where he was a member of the Delta Chi Fraternity. After his first semester, he enlisted in the United States Army. During his service to his country, for the first seven months, he was on multiple bases stateside followed by twenty-nine months in Okinawa, Japan. He then returned to OSU to finish his degree in electrical engineering, graduating in 1960. Harold met his future wife and life-long partner, Barbara Millsap, while at OSU. The couple were married on August 29, 1959, in Pawhuska, Oklahoma.

Harold and Barbara began their post-college lives in St. Joseph, Missouri and Clinton, Oklahoma where Harold worked for American Electric, a distributor of electrical supplies, before returning to Ponca City. In Ponca, Harold took a position as a draftsman with Snyder Electric Company, Inc., where he had worked during high school and college breaks. In 1968, he purchased the business from Mr. Snyder, the founder. Harold operated Snyder Electric until 2005 when he shifted his attention to property renovation, leasing and management through Younger Realty, LLC. Throughout its years of operation, Snyder Electric was a signatory contractor with the IBEW, and at the 100th anniversary for Local 444, Harold received a lifetime service award for his support of the IBEW. Harold was also a member of the National Electrical Contractors Association.

Since returning to Ponca in 1961, Harold has been an active member of the Ponca City community. In the early years, he served as President of Kiwanis, and for six years, he was a Boy Scout Leader for Troop 3 at the First Presbyterian Church. After his girls were born, Harold shifted his volunteer efforts to Camp Fire Girls, serving first as Coordinator of Candy Sales and then as President of the Council. Harold received numerous awards for his efforts for the Council, including the Gulic Award, the highest Council award.

After closing his business, Harold deployed his skills on numerous projects for Habitat for Humanity, where he has served as President and continues to be a Board Member. At the time of his death, Harold was especially excited about the homes being built on Grand Avenue. Harold also volunteered for Solar under the Sun, a Presbyterian Mission, which installs solar panels in third-world countries. Harold traveled to Kenya, Haiti, and three times to Honduras to lend his hand on solar panel projects in remote areas. On one occasion, Harold said they hiked up hills that even goats would find hard to climb! Harold also built a home in Siem Reap, Cambodia for a needy family on one of his trips to Asia. Another activity that has brought Harold great joy during his later years has been delivering Meals on Wheels to various members of the community. He enjoyed the many people he met during those weekly deliveries.

Although Harold was not an artist, he was President and Trustee of the Ponca City Art Association. He was also a Board Member of Peachtree Landing, Oklahoma Rehabilitation Center, Dwight Mission and Texas Presbytery Foundation. He also served on the Ponca City Utility Advisory Board and the Ponca City Traffic Commission. Harold was a life-long and dedicated member of the First Presbyterian Church, where he was baptized. He served as a Deacon, Trustee and Elder. Harold even taught Sunday School to approximately thirty three-year-olds (with the help of two other women) when his daughters were younger!

When Harold’s daughters started tennis lessons, he took up the sport which became his life-long passion. When he could break from work, he loved accompanying his girls to their tennis tournaments, playing in leagues, and participating in the many fun and competitive tournaments at the Ponca City Country Club. Everyone knew they could find Harold on the courts on Wednesday and Sunday evenings where he would be playing and socializing with some of his dearest friends.

Throughout the years, Harold had many interests. While the girls were younger, he took them snow skiing many times, always making sure that they took the last lift to the top so that they got the most value from their ski ticket! Although Harold did not hunt, he loved target shooting, a passion that he shared with each of his grandchildren. Harold loved all sports, whether it was watching his grandchildren at their many sporting events or watching college sports, professional tennis or the Cardinals (an interest he shared with his mom). The college football season became especially fun for him once two of his grandchildren went to Texas A&M, one to the University of Texas, one to the University of Alabama and one to Baylor University! Harold was an avid reader of military history which made finding a gift for him easy until he read most of the works published on the US military. Harold loved bridge, a hobby he shared with Barbara, and they made many friends through their bridge clubs. They have also enjoyed hours cultivating their beautiful flower gardens.

Harold loved adventure and other cultures so he traveled whenever he could. Over the years Harold was able to visit Australia, Hong Kong, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, Cambodia, Vietnam, Indonesia, England, Italy, France, Portugal, Germany, Spain, The Netherlands, Qatar, Oman, Kenya, Costa Rica, Honduras, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, Belize and various parts of the Bahamas, Virgin Islands and Mexico. He was a master of eating with chopsticks! His favorite trip was a cruise on the Rhine, Main and Danube Rivers which allowed him to see seven or eight other European Countries.

Some people thought that Harold looked a lot like Steve Martin, and on at least two occasions, he was mistaken for Steve Martin. As many know, he regularly filled the role of comedian and joker, with his one-liners and his well-planned practical jokes. Who will ever forget the twinkle in his eye when he thought something was humorous or was telling a funny story. No one knows this better than the friends with whom he met every morning at the donut shop.

Despite how busy Harold kept himself, he always took the time to stop and talk to those he encountered. He was interested in everyone’s story, more than his own. He was keenly aware of the feelings and needs of others, and he truly believed in the goodness of people. He was a good man.

Harold was preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Mary Anne McKay.

Harold is survived by his wife, Barbara; his daughter, Stephanie Kotarski and husband, Joe, of Anchorage, Alaska; his daughter, Suzanne Kline and husband, Eric, of Coppell, Texas; his grandchildren: Madeline Kotarski of Houston, Texas, Abbie Kotarski of Birmingham, Alabama, Pierce Kotarski of Austin, Texas, Courtney Kline of Dallas, Texas, Justin Kline of College Station, Texas, and Lachlan Kotarski of Anchorage, Alaska.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a memorial donation in Harold’s name to Ponca City Habitat for Humanity located at 117 West Central Avenue, to the First Presbyterian Church, or to a charity of your choice.

Source: Trout Funeral Home