Melvin Asher Young died at the age of 79, on Monday, Nov. 2, 2009, after a prolonged illness.

Mel was well-known in the community as a Certified Public Accountant, author, wine connoisseur, Civil War scholar and community activist.

A 1952 graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point, he served his country in the military during the Korean conflict and in Japan. He loved talking about his travels in Southeast Asia as a young lieutenant. He was very proud of his degree from West Point and his military service.

Mr. Young was a member of Mizpah Congregation and served as its president. He was also president of the Jewish Community Center in Chattanooga.

Mel Young was known as the Wine Professor as he taught the course in Wine Appreciation at the University of Tennessee for 30 years. He had an extensive wine cellar and was known to donate fine wines generously to charities.

His most important avocation was his scholarly research and writing about the War Between the States, particularly the areas of Jewish military involvement. He was considered to be an expert on particular areas of the Civil War and served as a resource for historians and writers.

He was invited to do an exhibit on Jewish military during the War Between the States at the Ford Theatre in Washington, D.C. Young was the author of “Where They Lie,” “The Last Order of the Lost Cause,” “Bitter Tears I Shed for Thee,” and his last book “Uriah” which was published in 2008. Mr. Young was frequently invited to be a guest speaker on the Civil War.

Mel Young was born in St. Louis, Mo., in 1930 to Mary and Leon Young.

He is survived by his wife of 52 years, Sonia; and his daughter, Melanie Anne Young-Ransom who resides in New York City with her husband, David. He is also survived by a sister, Faith Minnen (Lionel), of St. Petersburg, Fl.; two nephews, Jonathan Minnen (Judy), of Atlanta and Bradley Minnen (Bonnie), of St. Petersburg; brother and sister-in-law, David and Finette Winer, of Chattanooga, niece, Allison Koeneman (Steve), of Atlanta and several great-nieces and nephews.

For those who knew Mel Young, they will remember his love of family and friends, his love of life and country, his quick wit and caring personality and his loyalty to those he loved and befriended.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that gifts be made to Mizpah Congregation (923 McCallie Ave., Chattanooga 37403), the West Point Jewish Chapel Fund (750 Merrit, West Point, NY 10996), the Chattanooga Theatre Centre (400 River St., Chattanooga 37405) and the McKamey Animal Care & Adoption Center (4500 N. Access Road, Chattanooga, 37415).

Mel Young will be laid to rest at Chattanooga National Cemetery at 11 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 6.

Friends are invited to a celebration of his life at Mizpah Congregation at 923 McCallie at noon.

There will no visitation.

Condolences may be made on line at javerybryan.com.

Arrangements are by J. Avery Bryan Funeral Home.