HomeMy WebLinkAboutSorenson, Jr., Jerome W. "Romey" 1913-2008 Jerome WV. " 1� o mey " Sorenson, Jr.
August 25, 1913 - October 31, 2008
Jerome W. "Romey" Sorenson, Jr.,
95, of College Station, passed away
Friday, October 31, 2008, at Hudson .
Creek Nursing Facility. Visitation 0
will be from 4 to 6 p.m. Sunday, No- _
vember 2, at Callaway Jones Funeral
Home, 5001 South College Avenue,
Texas. Services are set for
1:30 p.m. Monday, November 3, at
A &M Church of Christ, 2475 East x
Rudder Freeway South, College Sta , 1'
tion, Texas. Burial will follow in Col a
lege Station Cemetery.
Romey Sorenson was born in Rockport, Texas on August 25, 1913,
to Jerome W. Sorenson and Annie Pearl Sorenson. He graduated from
Corpus Christi High School in 1931 and entered Texas A &M that fall.
While attending college, he was active in the Corps of Cadets, Ross
Volunteers, served as Executive Officer of Company A Infantry and
President of the Agricultural Engineering Society and worked as a
student janitor. In 1935 he received a Bachelor of Science degree in
Agricultural Engineering and was commissioned as a Second Lieuten-
ant, Infantry, in the Army Reserves. Upon graduation, Romey went
to work for John Deere Tractor Company and later worked with the
Civilian Conservation Corps. He joined the faculty in 1937 at John
Tarleton State College in Stephenville, Texas. During this period, he
was a member of the Texas National Guard and married Mary Mae
Price from Stephenville, Texas in 1938. In 1940, he was called to active
duty and remained in the Army during World War II as an Infantry
Officer in the 36th Division. 'The Division was the first American Divi-
sion to land on the continent of Europe at Salerno, Italy in September
1943. His awards included the Bronze Star Medal for combat action in
France and the Combat Infantry Badge. He later retired from the Army
as a Lieutenant Colonel.
He returned to Texas A &M after the war and received his Master's
Degree in Agricultural Engineering. While on the faculty at A &M, he .
was a professional engineer involved in teaching and research in the
preservation and storage of grain commodities and published ex-
tensively in scholarly journals and other publications. He served as
a member of the faculty until 1977, retiring as Professor Emeritus.
Romey was a member of the A &M Church of Christ for 63 years and
served as an elder from 1972 to 1981.
He taught in the School of World Evangelism and also a number of
college -age and adult Sunday school classes. His community service
including serving as a member of the Texas Air Control Board and
the College Station Planning and Zoning Commission. Romey was a
member of numerous professional societies and organizations to in-
clude a member of the American Society of Agricultural and Biological
Engineers for over 69 years.
Among his many honors are the Texas A &M Association of Former
Students Distinguished Achievement Award in Research, the 1974
American Academy of Achievement (Golden Plate) Award and the
Cyrus Hall McCormick Medalist of the American Society of Agricul-
tural Engineers. In 1975, he received an honorary Doctors of Law de-
gree from Pepperdine University.
Survivors include his wife, Kathleen Moore Sorenson; daughters
and sons -in -law, Suzanne and Warren Dillard of Los Angeles, Sallye
and Donald "Buck" Henderson of College Station; step- daughter, Nor-
ma McCain of Houston; grandchildren, Blake Dillard of Los Angeles,
Suzanna and Matt Cooper of Fort Worth, Brad and Melanie Hender-
son of Fort Worth, and Mark Moore of Houston; great - grandchildren,
Bennett and Kate Cooper, Grady Henderson and Grace Moore; niece
Joanie Puryear and husband Grady of Fredericksburg.
In lieu of flowers, memorials maybe made to
the J.W. Sorenson Endowed Scholarship Fund w,.,
at the Texas A &M Foundation, 401 George • 'r 4� ,
Bush Drive, College Station, Texas 77840 or ' - 0 `...
the A &M Church of Christ. CALLAWAY
FUNERAL HOME - CREMATORY
Pleaseleavecondolences -Flve Generations ofservlce-
979- 822 -3717
at www.callawayjones.com.