THEODORE HENRY YOUNG (1936-2021)

Theodore Henry Young of Chippewa Twp. passed away at 84 on Thursday, January 7, 2021 in Select Specialty Hospital-Boardman in Youngstown, OH.

Born January 26, 1936, on a 111-acre farm in Chippewa, Ted built his strong work ethic helping his family on the homestead while attending Beaver Falls High School. After graduating, he joined the Army, then worked for his aunt and uncle at Reed’s Dairy. He started his own milk delivery business with his brother, Dave in 1964. Over a decade they grew their delivery route from 7 families to over 1,100.

It was during his success in the milk business that he discovered his passion-coin collecting. What started as a hobby turned into a flourishing business after Ted purchased the former First National Bank of Rochester building and turned it into Young’s Jewelry and Coins in 1974.

Young's Jewelry and COin shop Rochester PA

Alongside his wife and three sons, Ted built a family business that was more than your typical jewelry store. He loved the history of coins and currency. One of his most prized collections were the first notes issued by the Beaver and Rochester national banks. While Ted never retired, he was quick to express how proud he was to leave the business to his sons. His family, friends, employees and customers alike admired his generosity, honesty and intelligence.

Known for his spontaneity, Ted once bought 5,000 pocket watches at a coin show. The watches filled the counters at Young’s Jewelry only long enough for a customer from Buffalo to visit the store and buy every single one. He packed his pocket watches into 5-gallon buckets and it took him 18 full buckets to carry his purchase out of the shop.

Besides his business success, Ted was a pillar of the community. A quietly generous philanthropist, Ted helped raise money for various causes during his life, including the American Cancer Society, Life Steps, victims of Hurricane Dorian, and anyone who needed a helping hand. He was proud to fly the tallest American flag in Beaver County above Young’s Jewelry. A huge fan of the Blackhawk basketball teams, Ted would travel by limo to the state championships in Hershey and gift both the boys’ and girls’ teams with watches for winning.

Alongside his renowned work ethic, Ted was also a man who loved relaxing with his family in his house on the island of Eleuthera in the Bahamas. He was well-loved by his friends who called him T.H. and Teddy, with many of his friendships spanning more than 40 years.

He was preceded by his wife, Pauline (Kirchel); his son, Ricky; and his brother, David.

Surviving are his two sons, Jeffrey and Timothy of Chippewa; his favorite daughter-in-law, Jeff’s wife, Cyndi (Chapman); his brother, Wayne (Barb) Young; his brother-in-law and two sisters-in-law, Ed and Marilyn Kirchel and Bonnie Young; Loving grandfather to Michelle, Ryan, and Shelby. Doting great-grandfather to Ky’zier and Khalil.

To read the complete article, see:
Theodore Henry Young (https://www.gabauerfamilyfuneralhomes.com/obituary/Theodore-Young)

"I knew Ted for nearly 50 years, and, in the early days he focused on jewelry, bullion and United states coins. His shop occupied the site of the former Rochester National Bank so it had a walk-in vault where he kept his extensive stock. (There was a magnificent ornate brass railing on the edge of the balcony where his wife Pauline often worked at a desk. He was once offered $10,000 for it but declined because he said that it was part of the character of the classic structure.) Ted’s customer base was varied and I often searched through buckets of world coins as he was putting the final touches on a big deal over the phone. I guess that I became a trusted client when I pulled out an AU Virginia colonial half cent from a hodgepodge of foreign coins and told him and his son Rick that it was in the wrong bucket! After that, when I wanted to look though his world coins, I was often told to just go into the vault and see what he had.

I could share a hundred stories about my visits to Ted’s coin shop over the years but one really stands out. I was rummaging through a collection of world coins when one his more distinguished customers entered the shop to show off his most recent acquisitions. He was a well-known contractor who had successfully bid on four U.S coin rarities. The customer took out a coin wallet and proudly held out uncirculated Panama Pacific octagonal and round $50 gold pieces. Then he produced a magnificent mint state St. Gaudens 1907 wire rim high relief $20 gold. As I was thinking how fortunate I was to have opportunity to examine these classic rarities close up, the man pulled out a proof $4 stella! Ted just smiled as if were just another typical afternoon in Rochester, Pennsylvania."

"Ted Young was truly a dealer's dealer. Ted was a mentor to many who took on the profession of numismatist. He would also take as much time as he could with collectors.

"As president of PAN, I could always count on Ted for donations and buying raffle tickets. He knew that it all went to our educational outreach. For years Ted was famous for bringing to the PAN show, dozens of 5 inch cinnamon rolls that he shared with dealers and friends. They would be gone in no time flat.

"Ted was a personal friend, he will truly leave a void in Western PA."