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06/07/16 - NNHS Newsletter -  Sonny Sorenson

Lloyd Raymond Sorenson, Jr.
(d. 05 June 2016)

Newport News High School Class of 19__

Dear Friends and Schoolmates,
   There is more sad news today. 
Sonny Sorenson, Class of 19__, brother of Lucy Sorenson Pape of VA and Sylvia Sorenson Pape ('52) of Northern VA, passed away at the Gardens of Warwick Forest in Newport News on Sunday, June 05, 2016.


From The Daily Press - 06/07/16:

       Lloyd Raymond Sorenson, Jr.
 
    NEWPORT NEWS - Lloyd Raymond "Sonny" Sorenson, Jr. passed away on Sunday, June 5, 2016 at the Gardens of Warwick Forest.

Sonny was a lifelong Newport News resident, graduating from Newport News High School.

He served in the U.S. Army from 1952-1954 in the Military Police and graduated from Virginia Tech with a B.S. in Business Administration.

Sonny started his career in 1959 at Newport News Shipbuilding. In 1979 he was appointed Vice President of Ship Construction and Repair. He retired in 1990 after 37 years of dedicated service as Vice President of Quality.

 
Sonny Sorenson
 
 
He was a member of the Propeller Club of the United States and Port of Newport News. He served as the past chair of the Virginia Tech Pamplin College of Business Advisory Council and was recognized as a distinguished alumnus. He was a past member of the board of directors, Virginia Manufacturers Association.

Sonny was preceded in death by his parents, Lucy A. Sorenson and Lloyd R. "Sorry" Sorenson (former Vice President and General Manager of the NNS) and his stepmother, Winnie Reiser Sorenson.

He is survived by his beloved wife of 59 years, Mary Millar Dick Sorenson; his children, Lloyd R. "Skip" Sorenson, III and his wife, Yvonne of Dallas, TX, Mary Ruth Sorenson of Smithfield, VA, Lucy S. Gore and her husband, Scott of Phoenix, AZ and William D. Sorenson and his wife, Julie of Jacksonville, FL; his sisters, Lucy Pape of Newport News and Sylvia Pape of Fairfax, VA; his eleven grandchildren, Erik Sorenson, Steven Sorenson, Gregory Greene and his fiancé, Daniele, Crystal Greene, Alex Gore and his wife, Erin, Jessi Gore, Dean Gore, Juli Gore, Peter Gore, Connor Sorenson and Millar Sorenson; his brother-in-law, William M. Dick, Jr and his wife, Claire of Yorktown, VA and his step brother, Walter Reiser and his wife, Debbie of Yorktown, VA.

A Memorial Service will be held on Thursday, June 9, 2016 at 5:00pm at Weymouth Funeral Home. The family will receive friends following the service from 6:00-7:30pm at the funeral home.

The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to either The Virginia Tech Pamplin College of Business Freshman Merit Scholarship for Students of the Commonwealth, a scholarship created by Sonny and Mary in 1990. The address is, Virginia Tech Gift Accounting Office, 902 Prices Fork Rd. (0336), Blacksburg, VA 24061 or the Children's Home Society of Virginia, 4200 Fitzhugh Ave. Richmond, VA 23230.

Sonny's request was to donate his body to science. Arrangements by Weymouth Funeral Home. View and post condolences on our online guestbook at dailypress.com/guestbooks.

Published in Daily Press on June 7, 2016.

View Guest Book

 
 

June 07, 2016

My condolences go out to the Sorenson family. I will have all of you in my thoughts and prayers.

Mr. Sorenson was a mentor of mine and was a pleasure to work with on the 688 Class Submarine Program. He and I spent many pleasurable hours discussing genealogy. I have not seen him for many years, but I kept up with him through our mutual friends. Rest in Peace, Sonny.

~ Greg Sutton, Henrico, North Carolina
 

 
June 07, 2016 
 
Sympathy and love to my other family. Sonny was such a kind man and will be missed.

~ Mary Gore, Wheaton, Maryland
 

June 07, 2016
 
It is with great sorrow to learn that Mr. Sorenson passed away. In the spring of 1982, I was one of six students hired from the University of Michigan to work a summer internship on the waterfront at NN by Mr. Sorenson. It was an opportunity for a young engineer to experience the manufacturing and construction side of the shipbuilding business before beginning a career of ship design. At the end of the summer, Mr. Sorenson offered me a full time job as an operations supervisor in the X10 Division, a job which I promptly accepted. Through my early career at the shipyard, Mr. Sorenson served as one of my mentors. He was always available when I had a career question or wanted to bounce off an idea on a job that I was working on. I appreciated his deep knowledge of shipbuilding and his approach to managing the business. I learned a lot from him, and firmly believe that it was Sonny who set the foundation for my career. It was his encouragement that has kept me focused on doing what is right for the company and our products and I appreciate all he did for me. We will all miss him dearly.

Rick Spaulding

~ Rick Spaulding, Mobile, Alabama
 
 
June 07, 2016  

My thoughts are with you and the children, Mary.
Kay Marshall Johnson

~ Kay Marshall Johnson, Purcellville, Virginia
 

 
June 07, 2016  
 
Sorry to learn about Sonny's passing. He was great to work with and a strong supporter of The Apprentice School. He was very supportive and encouraging of A School graduates who continued their education after apprenticeship. May he rest in peace, and God's grace be with his family.

~ Jim Hughes, Monterey, Virginia


 
June 07, 2016 
 
My condolences to the Sorenson family. Sonny was my mentor and was the best people person and best boss that I had in 42 years in the shipbuilding industry. Rest in peace.

~ Jerry McIntyre, Pittisboro, Indiana
 

 
June 07, 2016
 
   L.R. (Sonny) Sorenson was a leader of men and women. He reached inside the life of those who presented themselves to him as one of his employees, or one of the thousands of company employees. He cultivated ideas from his employees much like the many world leaders that come to mind when we compare greatness of mankind. I was fortunate to have known this man among men for two years, as one of many who worked under his direction as our Vice President. He will be sorely missed by all who knew him and became better people for the experience. To his family I extend my most sincere condolences for your most personal loss.

~ Doug Turner, Pearisburg, V
irginia
 

 
June 08, 2016 
 
We are so sorry to hear about Mr. Sorenson's passing. We will always remember his kind gestures and his sense of humor. We send our condolences to Mrs. Mary Sorenson and the rest of the family. God bless.

Sincerely,
Brett and Grace Smith and family

~
Brett and Grace Smith
 
 
June 08, 2016
 
Extremely sorry to hear about Mr. Sorenson's passing. The friendship he has had with my dad for over 50 years is one that is hard to beat. They were a funny pair, and really enjoyed each other's company even when they were winning money from each other playing golf or cribbage. Their joking with each other back and forth always made me laugh. Both Mary and Sonny have been very nice to our family and I know he will be missed. Send my prayers to Mary and the entire family.

Sincerely,
Tim Blowe

- Tim Blowe

 
 
June 08, 2016
 
I greatly enjoyed working with Sonny during my years at NNS. He always treated me with respect and took the time to help me, as a human resource type, understand the ship construction process. On several occasions, he arranged for me to go on carrier and submarine sea trials to fully appreciate the results of our work. His sense of humor was unsurpassed and helped make for a great working relationship. He shall be missed.

- William Heisler, Hilton Head Island, South Carolina
 

 
June 09, 2016
 
Dear Family,
Words are hard to find to express my feelings for you at this time. May GOD comfort and be with you.

When I joined Sonny's Staff in 1979 as Manager of NIGHT SHIFT my life including my family was changed positively forever. Sonny was a mentor to me and so many others as it was his nature to do so. Truly LEGENDARY in his field. As a TEAM we worked hard, completed our goals and had fun doing so.
Bob Burns

~ Bob Burns, Providence Forge, Virginia
 

 
June 09, 2016
 
  I
 

  Our deepest sympathies are extended to Mr. Sorenson's family and friends at this difficult time.


  Y'all take good care of each other!  TYPHOONS FOREVER! We'll Always Have Buckroe!

                          Love to all, Carol

==============================================

NNHS CLASS OF '65 WEB SITE: http://www.nnhs65.com

PERSONAL WEB SITE: http://www.angelfire.com/weird2/cluckmeat

==============================================

Carol Buckley Harty
7020 Lure Court
Fayetteville, NC 28311-9309
910-584-8802


 O God, Our Help in Ages Past

Words by Isaac Watts, The Psalms of David, 1719 (based on Psalm 90)
(17 July 1674 - 25 Nov 1748)

Music, St. Anne, by
William Croft, 1708
(10 Dec 1678 - 14 Aug 1727)


1. O God, our help in ages past,
Our hope for years to come,
Our shelter from the stormy blast,
And our eternal home.

2. Under the shadow of Thy throne
Thy saints have dwelt secure;
Sufficient is Thine arm alone,
And our defense is sure.

3. Before the hills in order stood,
Or earth received her frame,
From everlasting Thou art God,
To endless years the same.

4. Thy Word commands our flesh to dust,
“Return, ye sons of men”:
All nations rose from earth at first,
And turn to earth again.

5. A thousand ages in Thy sight
Are like an evening gone;
Short as the watch that ends the night
Before the rising sun.

6. The busy tribes of flesh and blood,
With all their lives and cares,
Are carried downwards by the flood,
And lost in foll’wing years.

7. Time, like an ever-rolling stream,
Bears all its sons away;
They fly, forgotten, as a dream
Dies at the op’ning day.

8. Like flow’ry fields the nations stand
Pleased with the morning light;
The flow’rs beneath the mower’s hand
Lie with’ring ere ’tis night.

9. O God, our help in ages past,
Our hope for years to come,
Be Thou our guard while troubles last,
And our eternal home.


"O God, Our Help in Ages Past" midi courtesy of http://www.higherpraise.com/AMidDefault/OGodOurHelpInAgesPast.htm - 08/04/09

"O God, Our Help in Ages Past" lyrics courtesy of http://library.timelesstruths.org/music/O_God_Our_Help_in_Ages_Past/midi/ - 08/04/09

Greg Olsen Paintings courtesy of http://gregolsengallery.com – 03/15/05

Army Seal clip art courtesy of http://www.onemileup.com/miniSeals.asp - 05/29/06

Blackwork Flowers Divider Line clip art courtesy of http://www.bravenet.com - 08/12/04

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