Dr. James C. Young's Obituary
James Young, Ph.D., P.E., BCEE, passed away peacefully on July 4, 2025, at his home at Butterfield Trail Village in Fayetteville, Arkansas. He was 85 years old.
Dr. Young earned his Bachelor's and Master's degrees in civil and environmental engineering from New Mexico State University and his Ph.D. in environmental engineering from Stanford University. Over a career spanning more than 41 years, he taught and conducted research at Iowa State University, Penn State University, and the University of Arkansas, inspiring generations of students and advancing the field of industrial wastewater treatment.
Alongside his academic work, Dr. Young founded two successful environmentally focused companies -- EnviTreat and RSA -- where he remained actively involved in consulting and supporting environmental projects worldwide up until his passing. In 2015, he received the W.W. Eckenfelder Industrial Water Quality Lifetime Achievement Award from the Water Environment Federation.
Above all, James was a devoted husband, father, and grandfather. He was married to his beloved wife, Sherry, for 67 years and loved spending time with family and playing games with loved ones.
He is survived by his wife, Sherry; his brothers, Ronald Young of New Mexico and Donald Young of Texas; his children, Alan Young of Ames, Iowa, and Renita Moore of Pea Ridge, Arkansas; many grandchildren and great-grandchildren; and countless friends, colleagues, and former students whose lives he enriched through his work, mentorship, and kindness.
A visitation will be held Thursday, July 10th, from 5-7 PM at Nelson-Berna Funeral Home in Fayetteville, Arkansas. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Beautification Fund at Butterfield Trail Village in Fayetteville or to the University of Arkansas Civil Engineering Program in honor of the James Young Scholarship.
He will be deeply missed and fondly remembered.
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