Walter T. Sorg, Jr.

Walter T. Sorg, Jr., aged 80, passed onto his heavenly home on May 18, 2011. A native son of Massillon and beloved husband of Virginia Prentiss Sorg. Walter was born to Eleanor Arnold Sorg and Walter T. Sorg on November 28, 1930. He attended Massillon schools until the end of his junior year at Washington High School, earned the rank of Eagle Scout under the leadership of Bud Atwater in St. Timothy’s Boy Scout Troop #2 and graduated from Kiski Preparatory School in Pennsylvania in 1948. Following graduation from Denison University, he entered the U.S. Navy. He and ginger met at Denison University and married on June 29, 1953, while he was still in the Navy. A Month after they were married, Walt was sent to Naples, Italy on a converted LST and Ginger moved to Massillon where she lived with the Sorgs and worked for William K. Yost and for St. Paul’s Lutheran Church. Upon his honorable discharge from the Navy, Walter joined his father at the F.W. Arnold Insurance Agency in Massillon. He became very active in the Massillon community and in St. Timothy’s Episcopal Church. He served as a Vestryman, Jr. and Senior Warden, and a choir member. He also sang in a 100 voice choir at St. Luke’s United Methodist Church when vacationing during the winter months in the Orlando, Florida area. Walt served a campaign chairman for United Way of Western Stark County and as a member of the United Way Board of Directors. Other community offices included: Past President of Members of the Museum, Inc., Past Director, Massillon Development Foundation, Past Director, Chamber of Commerce, Senior Active Member of Massillon Rotary Club, Past President of The Massillon Club, Member of Friends of Massillon Public Library, Spring Hill Historic Home and Massillon Heritage Foundation. Walter was the 1959 Tiger Football Booster Club President and remained an avid fan throughout his life. He also claimed a deep interest in Ohio State’s football games and was impressed with the character and fine coaching of Jim Tressel and Earl Bruce. Walter was the proud and loving father of three daughters, Peggy, Kathy and Chris and an only son, Doug, who died battling cancer of the liver when he was a sophomore at Baldwin-Wallace. Walter and Ginger so enjoyed their family times together, especially their vacations on the Butler Chain of Lakes in Windermere, Florida, and on the Portage Lakes in Akron, Ohio. Boating, fishing, golfing, singing in the choir, listening to music, and working around the house and yard were among Walt’s favorite things to do. He also enjoyed teaching his children how to water ski and sail. He was preceded in death by his parents and his son, Douglas Walter Sorg in 1976, his infant grandson, Jordan Ray Lauber and his son-in-law, Mark Thomas Lauber. Walter is survived by his wife, Ginger and by his oldest daughter, Peggy Buck, who resides with Chuck in Hamilton, Ohio. Their son, Bryan and his wife, Kathy, reside in Cincinnati area and blessed Walter and Ginger with their first great grandchild, Kaylin Ashley Buck. Another grandson, Chad Johnathan Buck, and his wife, Melanie, resides also in the Cincinnati area. A granddaughter, Sara Elizabeth Buck also lives and works in the Cincinnati, Ohio. Walter’s middle daughter, Kathy L. Lauber, of Mooresville, N.C. on Lake Norman, Two of her daughters live near her in North Carolina. They are, Jessica Lauber who is a Physician’s Assistant for an orthopedic surgeon, and Jennifer Lauber who is a college student and a caregiver/nanny. The oldest son, Justin Lauber, and his wife, Bethany, live and work in Denver, Colorado. The youngest son, Jacob Lauber, lives and works in Columbus, Ohio. Walter’s youngest daughter, Chris Kircher, lives with her husband, Mark, and two children, Rachael and Craig, in Massillon. Rachael is a student at Akron University and Craig is a student at Washington High School. Walter is also survived by two sisters, Carolyn Cox who resides in Sarasota, FL and in Bloomfield Hills, MI with her husband, Ed. Her daughter, Eleanor Noble and her husband, Jim and family reside near them in Michigan. Their son, David Cox, and his wife, Miriam live in Florida as does most of his family. Walt’s youngest sister, Frances Sauer, lives in Massillon and in West Palm Beach, FL. Walter has a niece, Margo Taylor Walker, who resides in Chagrin Falls with her husband, Jim, and two daughters. He also has a nephew, Kenneth Taylor, who resides in Rocky River, Ohio with his wife, Martha and family. There will be a memorial service at St. Timothy’s Episcopal Church, 226 Third Street S.E., Massillon, at 2:00 PM on Saturday. Friends may call from 5:00 to 7:00 P.M. at the Paquelet Funeral Home in Massillon on Friday. Burial will take place following the service at The Massillon Cemetery. Memorials may be sent to The American Kidney Association, The American Heart Association or to the Music Fund at St. Timothy’s Episcopal Church.