Robert L. Sorey

1919 - 2015

SOREY Colonel Robert L. Sorey, USAF (Ret) passed away peacefully on April 20, 2015 at the age of 95, after a short illness. He was a true patriot, an admired church and community leader, and a dedicated family man. Bob was one of the best of those who became known as the Greatest Generation . He volunteered for the Army Air Force two months after the Pearl Harbor attack, coming from his native Arizona to continue his career all over the globe. He never faltered in his duty. He was on the cusp of many innovations throughout his 30 year career with the United States Air Force, collaborating on such enterprises as the D-Day invasion, the rebuilding of Europe after WWII, the advent and employment of weather satellites, and the use of computers for forecasting the weather for military and civilian flights all over the world. Colonel Sorey participated in three declared wars from 1941 through 1975, acting as a weather officer and advisor to NATO generals, foreign and domestic, Presidents and Field Marshals. He was instrumental in the Berlin Airlift, the first major crisis in the Cold War. In their first major push into the West, the Soviets had blocked supply routes to Berlin. American, British, New Zealand, Australian, Canadian and South African air support was needed to fly supplies into the besieged city. Colonel Sorey was one of the meteorologists tasked to provide weather forecasts assuring the safety of the pilots and the arrival of food, water and clothing. His many wartime decorations included two Legions of Merit with oak leaf clusters, the National and Domestic defense medals, the American Middle Eastern campaign medal, the European theater medal, The Army of Occupation medal, the Strategic Air Command commendation, and the Air Force medal. He was a personal friend of General Curtis LeMay, and chief meteorologist for the North American Defense Command. In civilian life Robert Lexford Sorey was born 27 September 1919 in Phoenix, AZ, to Lex and Peggy Sorey. Lex was a minor-league baseball player, and Peggy the daughter of a Texas railroad executive. After their marriage the family moved to Tucson, where they established the family business, and worked for many years as the owners of the franchise for DELCO-REMY. In that capacity, Bob provided and serviced batteries to the National Solar Observatory in Tucson. Bob enrolled in the University Arizona and graduated with honors in math and physics. At the outbreak of WWII, he was part of the University of Arizona ROTC, and immediately enlisted. Because of his talent in math and science, Bob was sent by the Army Air Force to the California Institute of Technology to receive his M. S. in Meteorology. That began his love affair with weather, and a long and distinguished career in service to his country, first as a forecaster, and later as Deputy to the Commanding General of the Air Weather Service, and advisor to the President s Joint Chiefs of Staff. He was a consultant to General Eisenhower, Field Marshal Montgomery, and Group Captain James Martin Stagg, later knighted, for the D-Day invasion of Europe. After a distinguished Air Force career, Bob retired to Washington, D.C., to work for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, starting as a systems analyst and retiring from civilian service as Deputy Director of the National Weather Service. Colonel Sorey was appointed by President Carter as a charter member of the Senior Executive Service. He remained a faithful member of the American Meteorological Society, and occasional advisor to members of the World Meteorological Organization. It was in the Capitol City that he met and married the former Gene Christine Klein. They moved to Jacksonville in 1983 to retire. Bob was a dedicated Christian, a loving husband, father and grandfather, and until the age of 80 was also an avid golfer, even attaining a hole in one. He served on several committees of the Episcopal Diocese of Florida, and was a vestryman and senior warden in his respective parishes. Colonel Sorey was a faithful Episcopalian, holding membership at the Episcopal Church of Our Savior in Mandarin for 10 years, and at San Jose Episcopal Church for 20 years. He was a lecturer in science at San Jose Episcopal Day School, passing on to eager students an appreciation of weather and what effects it has on everyday life. He leaves his wife of 38 years, Christine, his son Roger (Sara), and his grandson Robert, as well as many friends, to grieve his loss. A memorial service for Colonel Sorey will be held at San Jose Episcopal Church at eleven o clock in the morning on Saturday, May 9, 2015 with The Reverend Stephen C. Britt officiating. Interment of ashes will be at a later date in the Columbarium at The Episcopal Church of Our Savior in Mandarin. His Lord said to him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant. Thou hast been faithful in small things, and I will set you over many things. Enter thou into the joy of thy Lord. St. Matthew 25:21. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Heartland Hospice or San Jose Episcopal Church. HARDAGE-GIDDENS, THE OAKLAWN CHAPEL, 4801 San Jose Boulevard is serving the family. Please Sign the Guestbook @ Jacksonville.com