Rhonda Gonnsen Young

Rhonda Gonnsen Young, 73, of Arnoldsville, GA was completely healed of all earthly struggles and began her eternally restored, joyful worship of Jesus Christ in heaven on April 22, 2025. The daughter of the late Paul Christian Gonnsen and Rhoda Violet (Simpson) Gonnsen, Rhonda was born in Ft. Walton Beach, Florida and spent significant parts of her childhood in Savannah, Georgia; Cherry, Tennessee; and Reddick, Florida as her family moved during her father’s career in the Navy and Air Force.

Rhonda is survived by Hoyt Lynn Young, her devoted husband of over 51 years, as well as their three sons, Ryan (Ashley), Joseph (Christina), and Joshua, as well as three grandchildren, Josiah, Ryley and Caspian. Rhonda was also beloved by her siblings, in-laws and extended family including sister Susie (Rick), brothers Danny (Terry), Rex (Donna), brother-in-law Larry (Jean), and a host of beloved nieces and nephews.

Rhonda pursued one goal in life with single-minded passion: to be the best possible mother and wife while reflecting the love of Christ to all. She was a fantastic cook (except that one time with the catfish stew), talented artist, and loving teacher of life skills. Rhonda patiently nurtured her children in so many different ways including reading all 7 Chronicles of Narnia books to them during Christmas breaks and coordinating cultural food nights with each of her children individually, bravely allowing them to assist in cooking supper for the family. She was a compassionate servant in all she did and an active member for many years at Arnoldsville Baptist Church and Living Water Baptist Church. Rhonda had the sweetest spirit, lifting up others with her beautiful smile, youthful persona, hand-made greeting cards, and enduring faith and strength in the Lord even as debilitating physical challenges accumulated over her latter decades. She also had an incredible array of fun socks and beautiful blankets that impressed her grandchildren. Rhonda was active in the PTO during her children’s school years, led numerous Cub Scout meetings and outings, and could frequently be found volunteering with children and youth activities in church. Rhonda also masterminded fun, adventurous vacations for her family, including two month-long road trips across the western US where she could be spotted courageously corralling her two older children while carrying her young toddler on her back along many desert paths into the sunset.

Funeral services to honor and remember Rhonda’s life will be held on Saturday, April 26, 2025 at Living Water Baptist Church (734 Yancey Rd, Arnoldsville, GA 30619) at 11:00 AM. The family will receive friends beginning at 10:00 AM prior to the service. Interment will follow at the Arnoldsville Cemetery. Pastor Derek Paul will officiate. The Young family requests that donations in Rhonda’s memory be directed to Living Water Baptist Church (http://www.livingwaterbaptistchurch.net/) in lieu of flowers.