Valerie Ann (Lashbrook) Youngen, 68, Terre Haute, passed away on November 9, 2024 at home surrounded by family and friends.
Valerie was born June 15, 1956, to Ray and Irene (Adams) Lashbrook and grew up in Rockville, IN. She was a 1974 graduate of Rockville High School and went on to earn an Associates Degree in Accounting from Ivy Tech, Terre Haute in 1976.
On September 16, 1978 Valerie and Gregory Youngen were united in marriage at St Joseph Catholic Church in Rockville. He survives, along with their two children Angela Rene Youngen (Matt Cameron), Bellevue WA, and Anthony Keith Youngen (Jennifer Evans), Louisville, KY and two grandchildren. Valerie has four sisters, Janet Newton (Jim), Garland, TX, Peggy Sharkey, Rockville, Anne Goad (Norman) of Cypress, TX. Her fourth sister, Mary Ann, died in infancy.
Valerie and Greg’s journey through life moved them around the country for several years before settling down in Urbana, IL in 1995. There they spent 17 years employed by the University of lIllinois Urbana-Champaign, She served as Admissions Officer for the UIUC Graduate School of Library and Information Science until her retirement in 2012. Later that year, Valerie and Greg moved to Terre Haute where they reside to this day.
Retirement from the working world for Valerie opened up new opportunities for community service and social group activities. She was an active member of the Terre Haute Newcomers Club, serving as President of the group from 2018-20, and participating in many of their special interest groups. Valerie and Greg are members of Mt Pleasant United Methodist Church, Terre Haute, where she was active in several faith-based and community outreach activities.
Valerie loved socializing and playing games with her friends, especially Euchre and Hand-Knee-and Foot, dominoes and Mah Jongg. However, her favorite activity was travel. She was able to visit a good part of the United States, Canada and Mexico. She and Greg have also made several trips to Europe, and one memorable vacation in New Zealand and Australia.
In 2019, Valerie was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma. After several unsuccessful treatments, in 2021 she entered into a clinical trial drug study through the Indiana Bone Marrow Transplant
Center at Franciscan Hospital, Indianapolis. That trial was a remarkable success, putting the cancer into remission for the final three years of her life. Eventually, she succumbed, but not before enjoying some of the best times of her life.
Valerie will be forever remembered as a loving wife, mother and sister; a good friend to many and her easy smile and contagious laughter. Strong in her faith, and loyal to all she loved, she will live on in memories of all who knew her.
There will be a graveside service Thursday, November 14 at 1:00 p.m. at Memory Garden Cemetery in Rockville for family and friends followed by an open celebration of life at the Rockville American Legion.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in Valerie’s honor be made to the Multiple Myeloma foundation. https://give.themmrf.org/fundraiser/5925165?is_new=true
Arrangements entrusted to the care of Gooch Funeral Home & Crematory, Rockville. Online condolences may be shared at www.goochfunerlahome.com.
