By William A. Weathers
Enquirer staff writer

LEBANON - Retired Warren County Common Pleas Judge Warren Clement Young Sr., who practiced law for 71 years and still made weekly visits to the Lebanon Correctional Institution to teach inmates to read, died of liver cancer Thursday at the Hospice of Dayton.

Mr. Young, who was diagnosed with cancer two weeks ago, was 94.

"Warren Young was the epitome of every aspect of a true gentleman," said Warren County Commissioner Pat South. "He was very knowledgeable; he was very kindhearted. He was a good judge. ... We lost a valuable friend."

Said Warren County Prosecuting Attorney Rachel Hutzel, who had known Young for more than 15 years: "He was really well-liked. He's really going to be missed. We've got the flag at half-mast."

Born on the family farm in Warren County just north of Lebanon, Mr. Young graduated from Steele High School in Dayton, attended the University of Dayton, and later apprenticed in his father's law firm. He passed the Ohio Bar exam in 1933, and joined his father, George, in the firm of Young and Young in Lebanon and Franklin.

For many years, Mr. Young was a municipal attorney for municipalities including Franklin and Miamisburg.

In 1956, he was elected as a Warren County Common Pleas Court judge, and he served in that post until his appointment to the Ohio 1st District Court of Appeals in Cincinnati in 1971.

After retiring from the court of appeals in 1973, Mr. Young joined the Lebanon law firm of Young and Jones.

Later, he and his brother, Marvin, joined the late Judge Fred C. Hubbell in the firm of Young and Hubbell.

Until his recent illness, Mr. Young for many years spent each Friday at the Lebanon Correctional Institution teaching inmates to read.

"When he was a judge, he felt that was one of the major causes of crime - people who couldn't read," said his son, Judge William W. Young, presiding judge of the 12th District Court of Appeals.

Mr. Young was a member of Lebanon United Methodist Church, a member of Warren County MRDD, a charter member of the Franklin Lions Club, and past president of the Ohio Common Pleas Judges Association, which recognized him with the Golden Gavel Award.

"He was a perfect role model for all of us," his son, William, said. "I've never heard a bad word about him."

In addition to his brother, Marvin R. "Barney" Young of Lebanon and son William of Lebanon, Mr. Young is survived by another son, Dr. Warren C. Young, the Warren County coroner, of Lebanon; a daughter, Barbara L. Meyers of Chautauqua; and seven grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren.

A private service will be held Saturday with burial to follow in Lebanon Cemetery. The Oswald-Hoskins Funeral Home is handling the arrangements

A memorial service will be held Sunday at 7 p.m. at Lebanon Methodist Church, Lebanon, with a visitation from 5 p.m. until time of services.

Memorials to the Hospice of Dayton and the American Cancer Society.

E-mail bweathers@enquirer.com