E.C. Younghouse

Earl Charles Younghouse, 77, of Cape Girardeau died Sunday, April 3, 2005, at the Chateau Girardeau Health Center in Cape Girardeau.

He was born Nov. 27, 1927, in Cape Girardeau, son of Earl Charles and Alma Popp Younghouse. He and Mildred Rauh were married April 17, 1949, in Pocahontas, Mo.

Younghouse was a lifetime member of Trinity Lutheran Church. He was a past president of the church, served on the Board of Elders, the Trinity Lutheran School Board, the Stewardship Board, and was a past president of the Trinity Men's Club.

He was a graduate of Cape Central High School and attended Southeast Missouri State University and South Dakota State. He was a member of the Board of Directors of Cape Mercantile Bank (US Bank) from 1987 to 1997. He was the former president and CEO of Georgell Corp., a family-owned shopping center and real estate business. He was also the owner of Younghouse Distributing Company Inc. since 1949.

Younghouse was a chairman of the Cape Girardeau County Park board, and was a member of the City of Cape Girardeau Board of Adjustment and Airport Committee. He was a Cape Girardeau County commissioner from 1988 to 1994.

He was active in the Cape Jaycees for 15 years, serving on various committees, where he received the Key Man Award and was awarded life membership. Younghouse was also a member of the Evening Optimist Club, and a past president and lieutenant governor of that organization.

Younghouse was a member of the Friends of Saint Francis and a member of the Southeast Hospital Association. He served in the army from 1945 to 1947, and was a veteran of World War II.

Survivors include his wife; three sons, Fred Younghouse and wife Susan, Robert Younghouse and wife Laura, both of Cape Girardeau, and Daniel Younghouse and wife Lisa of Albertville, Alab.; and 12 grandchildren, Jonathan, Matthew, Emily, Elizabeth, Rebecca, Patrick, William, Tyler, Maggie, Jordan, Andrea and Ashlee Younghouse.

Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at Ford and Sons Mount Auburn Funeral Chapel in Cape Girardeau.

The funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at Trinity Lutheran Church, with the Rev. Douglas Breite officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Park in Cape Girardeau.

Memorial contributions may be made to Saxony Lutheran High School, Living Hope and the Trinity Lutheran School Building Fund.