Obituary for John Youel
Dr. John Kenneth Youel Jr. passed away at home on Thursday, July 1, 2021. Dr. Youel was born in Yonkers, New York, on June 24, 1934, and grew up in Irvington, New York, in Westchester County. His family moved to Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, and he attended high school at Cranbrook, graduating in 1952. He received his Bachelor of Science degree from the College of Wooster, Ohio in 1956 and received his Medical degree from the University of Michigan Medical School in 1960.
Dr. Youel completed his residency at Bellevue Hospital and Columbia Presbyterian Hospital. During his residency, he joined the United States Air Force and served in Wiesbaden, Germany where he completed two years of service. In 1967, Dr. Youel moved to Charlottesville, Virginia and began practicing General and Vascular Surgery at Martha Jefferson Hospital. Dr. Youel brought arthroscopic and carotid artery surgery to the Martha Jefferson Hospital and was an early adopter of laser surgery and cosmetic vein treatments.
Dr. Youel was also a man of many interests. He served as a Deacon and an Elder at First Presbyterian Church in Charlottesville. He was an avid sportsman with a passion for golf, skiing and horse riding, and was the President of the Virginia Walking Horse Association. In addition, he loved music – singing with the Opera Workshop, Virginia Oratorio Society, First Presbyterian Church Choir, and the Olivet Presbyterian Church Choir. Dr. Youel was also the Chairman of the Committee dedicated to fundraising and selecting the Casavant Freres organ for the First Presbyterian Church sanctuary. Dr. Youel took an interest in his family’s Scottish ancestry, and became an accomplished bagpiper; he was the Pipe Major of the Albemarle Highlanders Pipe Band, performing locally and competing at Scottish festivals.
He is survived by his wife, Sheila Tate; son, David Youel and his wife, Chrissy of Louisa; and daughter, Ellen Youel Ahmad and husband, Mazher, of Morristown, New Jersey; and his grandchildren, Jack and Maggie Youel and Sophia and Zakaria Ahmad. A visitation will be held from 6 until 8 p.m. on Wednesday, July 7, 2021, at Hill & Wood Funeral Home in Charlottesville, Virginia.
A service of worship and reception will be held at 12 noon, Saturday July 31, 2021, at Olivet Presbyterian Church on Garth Road in Charlottesville, Virginia, with Pastor Seth Lovell, A private interment will be held at Monticello Memory Garden. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Dr. Youel’s name to Olivet Presbyterian Church. Condolences may be shared online at www.hillandwood.com.
Posted in on October 13, 2021.
