George W. Sorenson

George William Sorenson was born on Feb. 21, 1934, in Princeton, N.J. to Alfred and Emily (Zepp) Sorenson. His father’s ancestors came from Denmark while his maternal side was from Germany. George’s father was a professor of Mechanical Engineering at Princeton University.

George attended Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken, N.J., where he was a member of Theta Xi fraternity. Upon graduation in 1957, George was hired by Vickers, Inc., to work on the hydraulic systems for the SR 71 (Blackbird), a super-sonic fighter plane.

In the mid-60s he became an employee of Sunstrand Corporation and worked on the hydraulics of the lunar landing module (the LEM project) of the Apollo Space program. He later worked for several aviation companies (some merging with others), always involved with the development of pneumatic or hydraulic components.

George had been married to his beloved Gretchen, a second marriage for both, for many years up to her passing on Palm Sunday, March 2016.

He is survived by daughter Tamara Sorenson of Fountain Hills; step-daughter, Virginia Erbes of Folsom, Calif.; and brother, Robert of Charlottesville, Va.

George had been an active participant in Missouri Lutheran Synod congregations his whole life, and was most recently a member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Fountain Hills. Services were held at that church on Thursday, June 30.