Mary “Irene” Younkin, age 95, of Columbus, passed away peacefully surrounded by her loving family on Saturday, Dec. 5, 2015.
She was the Chairman of Greenlawn Realty Company, co-founder of Greenlawn Mobile Home Sales and Park; Greenlawn R.V. Center, Scarlett Manor, Rose Hill Terrace, Enchanted Acres and Facilities, and Greenlawn Companies Executive Office Complex.
Irene was inducted into the National R.V./Manufactured Housing Hall of Fame in Elkhart, Indiana, where she and her late husband pledged the funds for the Theatre in the Round which was recently dedicated as the Floyd E. and Mary Irene Younkin Theatre.
Irene was an original founding member of Dycom Industries, a NYSE listed company. She established the Floyd E. Younkin Branch of the Pickaway County District Public Library, Ashville, where she was honored as Ashville’s 2000 Woman of the Year.
She was a philanthropic donor to The Ohio State University, where her generosity helped to fund the Younkin Success Center, dedicated in 2000, and because of the influence of her childhood involvement in 4-H, she was one of the founding contributors to the new Ohio 4-H Center.
She was a member of the Order of the Eastern Star and supported many charitable endeavors, including the Garth Brooks Teammates for Kids Foundation.
Irene was born Nov. 23, 1920, in Circleville, to the late Corilla Ula (Valentine) and Turney Leroy Pontius. She was also preceded in death by her husband of 56 years, Floyd E. Younkin; twin sister, Frances Marvene Dunkle; brothers, Harold and Wilbur Pontius; and nephew, Jerry Dunkle.
Irene will be deeply missed by her son, Ronald P. (Linda) Younkin; daughters, Janice (Robert) Benjamin and Scarlett (Dr. Thomas) Ebenhack; nephew, Michael (Cathy) Dunkle; nieces, Marlene Eberhard and June Dunkle; grandchildren, Ronald L. (Ellen) Younkin, Brian Younkin, Brett (Leslie) Younkin, Shari (Zach) Wright, Wendy (Brian) Hamler, Robert “Bobby” (Trisha) Benjamin, Raymond “Rayme” (Heather) Benjamin, Thomas Jason “T.J.” (Bridget) Ebenhack and Wesley Ebenhack; great-nieces and nephews, Jerry L. Dunkle, Brenda Eberhard, Michele “Shelly” (Dan) Skelly, Todd (Sarah) Dunkle, Teresa (Rex) Ralston, Mike (Annette) Manson, Susie Long and Mark (Lyndsay) Manson; great-grandchildren, Ashleigh, Ben, Schuyler, Nick, Blake, Max, Michael, Ryan, Joey, Cara, Molly, Keagan, Natalie, Mary, Ellen and Michael; great-great-nieces and nephews, Jessica, Samantha, Jake, Nathen, Dominic, Reece, Kali, Olivia, Rory, Macy, Mike, Jarred, Braden, Cooper and Camden; great-great-grandchildren, Kaiden and Brantley; great-great-great niece and nephew, Lane and Madison; very special life-long friend, Carol Brown; devoted employees and co-workers; extended family, neighbors and friends; and loving caregivers Debbie, Martina, Sandy and Melissa.
Family will welcome friends 2 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 10, 2015, at Schoedinger East Chapel, 5360 E. Livingston Ave., Columbus, OH 43232. Funeral Service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday, Dec. 11, 2015, at the Enchanted Acres Community Center located at 4510 S. Parson’s Ave., Columbus, OH; interment to follow in Forest Cemetery, Circleville, with Rev. Dr. William Snyder and Pastor Steve Combs co-officiating.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Floyd E. Younkin Library, 51 Long St., Ashville, OH 43103; the RV/MH Hall of Fame, 21565 Executive Pkwy. Elkhart, IN 46514; or a charity of your choice in her memory.
Please visit www.schoedinger.com to share memories or express condolences.
This article originally appeared on The Pickaway News Journal
