Mae Catherine Wittenmyer Young, 86, a former elementary school teacher and health insurance specialist at AARP, died at her home in Lexington, Virginia on May 21, 2007 from complications of Alzheimer's.

Mrs. Young was born in the San Francisco area and attended school in Niles, CA, which is now part of Fremont.

She received her bachelor's degree from San Francisco State College (now California State University) and a master's degree from Stanford University.

She taught school for 15 years in Alameda, Menlo Park and Claremont, California and in Fairbanks, Alaska before taking time off to raise her son.

She later worked at Georgetown and American Universities in Washington, DC and at AARP, from which she retired in 1987.

She has lived in Lexington since 1997.

She is survived by her husband of 61 years, Dr. Kenneth E. Young of Lexington; her son, Bruce Young and daughter-in-law, Jennifer Law Young, both of Lexington; two granddaughters: Catherine Louise Young and Diana Jane Young, at home; and one sister, Ilene Wittenmyer Finn of San Francisco.

Burial will be in the Arlington National Cemetery. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, please make contributions to the Rockbridge Area Hospice or the Alzheimer's Association.

Arrangements are being handled by the Harrison Funeral Home & Crematory, Lexington, Virginia.