ATHENS- Julitta “Lita” Sophia Young passed away Wednesday, August 21st, at The Laurels of Athens, Ohio. Born January 4, 1932, in Aschenau, Germany, Lita grew up in Deggendorf where she attended school during the academic year and spent her summers swimming in the Danube.
In the early 60s, while living in Hanau, Lita met the love of her life, Merrill Allan “Bussie” Young, an American GI stationed at the nearby army base. Despite some early skepticism from her family, Bussie convinced Lita to marry him and move to his hometown of Athens, Ohio, which she did in January, 1964.
Within a few years, they purchased a home on South May Avenue and began to create one of the most impressive flower gardens in town. Lita and Bussie devoted countless hours to planting, weeding, staking, and fertilizing. Then they’d kick back and admire the results from their welcoming patio. From spring through fall, friends and neighbors would stop by to
admire the ever-changing profusion of multi-colored blossoms. The alley behind their house became a destination and gathering place for locals with out-of-town visitors who would come to admire the garden.
Lita worked at financial institutions on Court Street in Athens before joining the staff at Ohio University’s Alden Library in the 1980s. She retired from Alden in the late 90s and maintained strong connections with her former colleagues for years afterwards.
Preceding Lita in death were her husband, Bussie; parents, Katherine and Eligius Hacker, as well as her siblings, Josefine Schöfer and Eligius Hacker. Also deceased are sisters-in-law Janice Bush and Juanita “Sissie” Young. She is survived by her nephews, Gerhard Hacker (Daniela) of Munich and Eligius Stalla-Hacker (Roland) of Bernried, as well as a sister-in-law, Martha Gilkey of Shade, and dear friends Mary Jane Kelley, Elizabeth Story, Judith Daso, and Kate Young.
Lita will be buried beside Bussie in the New Marshfield Cemetery. A grave-side memorial service will be held Wednesday, August 28th at 1:00 p.m. She would appreciate donations in her memory be made to the Athens County Humane Society in recognition of her profound love for animals. She especially loved cats. Arrangements are with Jagers & Sons Funeral Home. Please share a memory, a note of condolence or sign the online register at www.jagersfuneralhome.com.
