Richard Neil Young

Richard Neil Young was born July 1, 1942, in Fresno, California to Chester and Madge Young. Richard passed away at his home in Shelby Township on October 31, 2025.
Richard was raised in central California, graduating from Santa Cruz High School where he played on the football team. After High School, Richard spent most of his career in public service. Richard was a building inspector for Shelby Township, the Building Director of Macomb Township and finished his career serving in the building department for the City of Rochester Hills. Through over three decades of dedication to the home building industry, he also served on several boards for the Southeast Michigan Building Officials & Inspectors Association. Richard was renowned for his vast experience and professionalism throughout his career.
When Richard was not working, he could be found on the golf course, out fishing, competing in softball and racket ball leagues or coaching youth football and baseball along with cheering on the local Detroit sports teams. Other than the Tigers, Lions, Red Wings and Pistons, Richard was a fan of both the University of Michigan Wolverines and the Alabama Crimson Tide.
Everyone that knows Richard would tell you he had a quick wit and a great sense of humor. He had a very large network of friends, colleagues and other family, but Richard was closest to his father-in- law, Ralph Dodson and his brother-in-law Ralph Dodson Jr.. His over 50-year friendship with Barry Wyatt and his belated wife Patricia was a greatly cherished relationship.
He is the beloved husband of over 61 years of Diane. The loving father of Kimberly (Rob) Saje and Troy (Maureen) Young. Richard was a proud grandfather of Christian (Kelly) Young, Elizabeth (Sam) Ridgell, Manuel (Shelby) Tapia, Alexander Young, Brandon Saje, Nathanael Young, Casey Tapia and Justin Saje. He was also a very proud great grandfather of Everly Ridgell and Ledger Young.
Instate Friday November 7th, 10:30 AM until 11:00AM at St. John Vianney Catholic Church, 54045 Schoenherr Rd (N. of 24 Mile Rd.) Shelby Township, followed by the Funeral Mass. Interment will follow immediately afterwards at White Chapel Memorial Park Cemetery in Troy, Michigan.
In lieu of floral tributes memorial contributions may be made in Richard's memory to The Michigan Humane Society https://tinyurl.com/RichardYoungMemorialHumSoc or to the Kidney Foundation https://tinyurl.com/RichardYoungMemorial.