Vernon O. Underwood

April 30, 1940 - November 2, 2025 Vern Underwood, a beloved husband, father, and successful businessman, passed away peacefully Sunday, November 2, in his Newport Beach, California home at the age of 85.
The son of Vernon O. Underwood Sr. and Adrienne (Young), Vern was predeceased by his sister, Janet Smith, and is survived by his wife of 22 years Carol (Schiebel), sons Jeffrey and Christopher (married to Piper) and their mother Daryl (Westering), and grandchildren Shaun, Chloe, Alexa, Owen, and Hank.
Born in Los Angeles, Vern was raised in Hancock Park and attended high school at Black-Foxe Military Academy. He then spent two years at Menlo College, where he proved to be quite a basketball player, before transferring to and graduating from the University of Southern California in 1962.
Soon after graduating from USC, Vern joined his family's business, Young's Market Company, a wholesale distributor of wine, spirits, meats, and specialty food products founded in 1888. Starting in the warehouse and then moving to sales, his true passion in business, Vern worked his way up the organization to become President in 1975. Over more than three decades as President, Vern transformed Young's Market Company from a local Southern California business into a preeminent wine and spirits distributor, operating in 10 western states and with more than 3,000 employees. He was passionate about the wine and spirits business, cared greatly for his employees and their families, and was revered internationally by other industry leaders for his vision, critical decision making, and integrity. Fittingly, he was well recognized for his achievements, being awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Wine and Spirits Wholesalers of America in 2012 and the Entrepreneur of the Year Lifetime Achievement award from Ernst & Young in 2015.
Vern raised his boys in Hancock Park, Los Angeles, where he loved to coach his boys' sports teams. He also loved trout fishing and visiting the Eastern Sierras. He enjoyed golfing all over the world and was a member of Big Canyon Country Club in Newport Beach and The Los Angeles Country Club.
There were many organizations and individuals that appreciated his quiet support. Vern generously supported the Medical College of Wisconsin, where he endowed a professorship in colorectal cancer research. He was a benefactor to Hoag Hospital, the Boys and Girls Club of Laguna Beach, and the UCSD Neurology Research center. Vern was also a loyal and generous Trojan, supporting his alma mater, USC, over many years.
Though his accomplishments and generosity were enormous, Vern will be best remembered by his closest friends, family and colleagues for his magnetic personality. His witty and unwavering sense of humor brought to life every room he entered. He loved to laugh, and people were drawn to his laughter, which was the foundation of many deep and lifelong friendships in business and his personal life.
The Underwood family wishes to thank their friends and community, Vern's many caregivers, and the doctors at the UCSD Department of Neurosciences and Hoag Hospital for their kind support over the past few years.
A small, private service to honor Vern is being planned by his family.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to The Padres Foundation.
https://www.mlb.com/padres/forms/padres-foundation-charity-donations
Please reference Vern Underwood with any donation.