Richard D. Young, a long-time Democratic leader in the Indiana State Senate, passed away on December 27, 2025, at the age of 83 at his home in Milltown, Indiana. His death was confirmed by local officials and reflects the loss of one of the region’s most respected legislators, a man whose decades of advocacy touched countless lives in his community and across the Hoosier State.See more…
Born on December 2, 1942, Young grew up with a deep commitment to community and service that would define his life. After earning an AB in Behavioral Sciences from Vincennes University, he dedicated himself first to local civic work — including serving as Crawford County Auditor and as Secretary of the Crawford County Democrat Central Committee — before stepping onto the broader political stage.
Young’s tenure in the Indiana Senate began in 1988, when he was appointed to represent the 47th District, succeeding newly elected Lieutenant Governor Frank O’Bannon. For more than 25 years, Young was re-elected by voters across Crawford, Dubois, Harrison, Perry, Spencer, Warrick, and Washington Counties, building a reputation as a thoughtful lawmaker deeply connected to rural communities.
Perhaps most notably, Young served as the longest-serving Minority Leader of the Indiana Senate, holding leadership roles from 1996 to 2008 and later as Minority Leader Pro Tempore until his retirement in 2014. In these capacities he championed bipartisan collaboration, agricultural interests, rural infrastructure, and local governance issues, earning respect from colleagues on both sides of the aisle.
Outside the Senate chamber, Richard was known as a true Renaissance man — a devoted family man, entrepreneur, and passionate advocate for rural life. Before entering politics, he helped run a family business with his brothers and later managed a diversified farm in Milltown. He also pursued artistic passions like oil painting and jewelry making, exemplifying a life filled with curiosity and heart.
Young is survived by his wife Ashira, his children — Bridget, Angela, Vicki, and Richard D. Young III — along with grandchildren and a sister, Peggy Vargo. Friends, colleagues, and community members remember him as a compassionate leader whose legacy will endure through the lives he influenced and the policies he helped shape.
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