Rodney Maurice Young Obituary in Memphis at R.S. Lewis & Sons Funeral Home

Obituary For Rodney Maurice Young

Rodney Maurice Young, 59 of Cordova, Tennessee died on Wednesday, January 22, 2020, at Baptist Memorial Hospital Memphis in Memphis, Tennessee. Born Friday, August 26, 1960 in Tokyo, Japan, he was the son of Lionel Young and the late Gladys Aikens Young Sneed.

Rodney was the Senior Patent Director at Medtronic for the Spinal and Biologics business in Memphis, Tennessee. He was also the past executive sponsor of the Christian Employee Resource Group (CERG) at Medtronic. He worked extensively with the African Decent Network (ADN) both in Memphis and across Medtronic He worked over 20 years handling complex intellectual property and corporate transactional matters for large multinational corporations including Medtronic, General Electric Company and Procter & Gamble. Rodney was a partner in the law firm of Thompson Hine and was a Six Sigma master black belt in GE’s legal department. He received his J.D. from Salmon P. Chase College of Law (1994) and a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Alabama (1982). Rodney worked as an engineer at General Electric prior to obtaining his law degree. He was a registered Patent Attorney and practice before the United States Patent and Trademark Office, he was admitted to practice in the states of Indiana, Ohio and Tennessee. In 2017 Rodney Young returned to the University of Alabama to receive a special honor from his alma mater—recognition as a Distinguished Departmental Fellow by the University of Alabama's Department of Mechanical Engineering. Rodney’s Inductcation as Distinguished Departmental Fellow acknowledged the personal qualities that he had as an outstanding engineer and recognized the exemplary professional achievements he made in his more than 30-year career first as an Engineer and then as a Patent Attorney with a comprehensive understanding and appreciation of both Mechanical Engineering and Patent Law. Rodney was a Board member of Leadership Memphis and member of the Alumni Class of EP 2018.

He was the husband of Diane Fountain Young. He was employed by Metronic. Surviving are daughter, Jennifer Marie Young, brother, Lionel Young, Jr., sisters, Sherian Thompson and Pamela Young.

The family will receive friends from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM on Friday, January 31, 2020, at R S Lewis & Sons Funeral Home, 2944 Walnut Grove, Memphis, Tennessee.

Funeral service will be at 12:00 PM on Saturday at Mississippi Blvd Christian Church located at 70 North Bellevue Memphis, Tennessee 38104. Interment will be in Memorial Park Cemetery, Memphis, TN.

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You are missed Rodney, your Alabama family.

I just found out about Rodney's passing. I am a patent attorney and met and worked with Rodney when he was at P&G. He was a kind and loving man. Everyone liked him and enjoyed being with him. I am so sorry for the loss of Rodney at such a young age. Please pass along my sincere sympathy to his family. Betty Zea

To The Young and Fountain Families,
We are deeply saddened to hear the loss of your love one. We pray God’s blessings and strength will keep you lifted as you cherish Rodney’s memories.
With deepest sympathy, Pastor & Members of Sellers Memorial Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) White Hall, Alabama

Dianne you and Rodney are family to me we've known each other for over 30 years my Prayers are with you and your family my lil brother will truly be missed, to be absent from the flesh is to be present with the Lord, I'll see you in Heaven one day my brother prepare a place for me, much, much Love to you, until we meet again.Jake Roe

To Diane, Jennifer and family. Sending our heartfelt condolences during this difficult time of bereavement. Laurie and I have very fond memories of the time we spent together there with you all. Rodney was a kind and wonderful man and will never be forgotten. We love you all and will keep you in our prayers. Love Always JC & Laurie.