George Wilson Younce; Gospel legend (The Cathedrals)
Hyfler/Rosner
April 16, 2005 Saturday 4X EDITION
Southern Gospel legend Younce, 75;
Bass singer part of Stow-based The Cathedrals;
By Marilyn Miller; Beacon Journal staff writer
One of Southern Gospel's most popular vocalists and
personalities, George Wilson Younce, died Monday.
The 75-year-old legendary bass singer was part of The
Cathedrals, a Stow-based group that began as The Cathedral
Quartet with Rex Humbard Ministries in 1964.
His funeral will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday at the Akron Baptist
Temple, 2324 Manchester Road. Calling hours will be from 4
to 8 p.m. Monday, also at the Akron Baptist Temple.
In 1969, the group left Humbard Ministries to start their
own ministry through music.
For more than 30 years, the Grammy Award-winning gospel
group spread its message through music, humor and personal
testimony.
Mr. Younce was inducted into the Southern Gospel Music Hall
of Fame twice: as a member of the Cathedrals and
individually.
Mr. Younce also was a member of the Akron Radio Hall of Fame
and a 14-time recipient of the Singing News fan award for
favorite Southern gospel bass singer. He collected 15 awards
proclaiming him as the favorite bass singer at the National
Quartet convention in Louisville, Ky.
Born in Patterson, N.C., and named George because he was
born on George Washington's birthday, Mr. Younce knew he
wanted to sing at an early age.
His family said he was a natural entertainer at the age of
5.
Daughter Gina Eroskey of Stow said her father would
reminisce about dancing and singing on the porch as a child.
People would toss him pennies, she said, and her father
would collect the money and head for the local candy store.
At age 15, he worked at a furniture factory. When he got off
work, he would listen to a radio program featuring the Blue
Ridge Quartet. His family said that's what made him want to
sing gospel music.
Over the years, he sang with a variety of groups.
In 1950, he was called for military duty and was a
paratrooper in the Army's 82nd Airborne Division.
In 1954, he resumed his singing career and eventually signed
on with the Cathedral Quartet.
While singing in a small church in Glen Fork, W.Va., he met
his future wife, Clara Sanders. They were married 50 years
and had five children.
''It wasn't just his talent that attracted people, it was
his magnetic personality,'' she said. ''He was God's glue
that brought people together.''
Son-in-law Ernie Haase, who also sang as a tenor for The
Cathedrals in the 1990s, described Mr. Younce as one of the
greatest crooners ever. ''When he sang, he painted a picture
for you,'' Haase said. ''Singers are a dime a dozen, but
great communicators are priceless.''
Mr. Younce loved cowboy boots and had more than 100 pairs,
in a variety of colors. It was the only shoe style he could
find to relieve his fallen arches.
''When people commented on his boots, he'd make sure they
got a pair,'' said his son-in-law. ''He must have bought
more than 100 boots for people.''
Family members said he liked to take advantage of a good
deal. If he found anything on sale, such as toothpaste or
toilet tissue, he'd stock up with at least a six-month
supply.
The Cathedrals retired in 1999 after the passing of Mr.
Younce's longtime friend and singing partner, Glen Payne.
Mr. Younce formed a new group, the Old Friends Quartet.
With failing kidneys and a heart condition, he collapsed
during a Bill Gaither Homecoming concert at Carnegie Hall in
2002 and retired.
After he went into cardiac arrest once while undergoing
dialysis, he called every day one of his ''bonus days,'' his
daughter said.
While with The Cathedrals, Mr. Younce was also the emcee and
knew how to captivate his audience. ''He could tell you a
joke that you've heard 100 times, and you'd laugh like it
was the first time you heard it, because he was so funny,''
Haase said.
Haase said he remembers what his father-in-law would tell
the audience as he left the stage: '' 'I got more days
behind me than I have ahead of me, I know that,' '' his
son-in-law repeated. '' 'But if the Lord calls for me, I'm
packed and I'm ready to go.'
'' 'I have my house all in order.' ''
Marilyn Miller can be reached at 330-996-3098 or
800-777-7232 or mmi...@thebeaconjournal.com