Obituary
Silas D. Sorrell of Muncie – beloved husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, uncle and friend – died Tuesday, May 28, at home. He celebrated his 90th birthday on March 31.
He was born March 31, 1934, in Bath County, Ky., to Herman and Biddie (Barber) Sorrell.
He was hard working and had a great work ethic. He worked at various jobs in Kentucky, including at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, before moving to Muncie in 1951 at the age of 16 to work at Frank Foundries. He came to Muncie to work at the factory and to be near his brother, Jesse Sorrell. Though he left for a few months to help his father, he returned in 1953 and worked there until 1977.
He started as a laborer at the factory but later became a foreman. He said the administrative clerk especially appreciated the way he kept timesheets and was able to do math so easily. He took his first plane ride while working there as he was sent to Chicago for training on blueprints. Over the years, he was a manager/supervisor at General Tire and Rubber in Marion and at a factory in New Castle before making gears for truck transmissions at Warner Gear in Muncie. While he was laid off, he worked at Yorktown Aluminum. He returned to Warner Gear in 1983 and retired in 1997.
Silas enjoyed being a sportsman, especially deer hunting, target shooting and fishing. He and his wife, Hazel, took fishing trips to Canada and Wisconsin with friends, where he would fish and Hazel would cook up the day’s haul. They also enjoyed square dancing, camping and gardening. For many years, they hosted a fall cookout at their home that was enjoyed by all. They both loved Christmas and made sure their six children had plenty of presents under the tree.
In his younger years, he bowled in several leagues, played softball, loved to golf and enjoyed skiing at Big Turkey Lake with his longtime friend Don Shaw and his family. He was a tough competitor but always was able to joke with his fellow teammates. He was a volunteer for LifeStream Services, where he helped with Senior Games and earned medals in bowling, golf and euchre. LifeStream also honored him with an outstanding volunteer award.
He spent a good deal of his time with his wife and six children, whether that be camping, going to Cincinnati Reds games, traveling to visit his mother and family in Kentucky or chauffeuring any one of his children to various school or athletic functions.
Silas was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Hazel (2014); son, Michael A. Sorrell (2019); daughter, Karen S. Hathaway (2014); his parents; three sisters, and four brothers.
He is survived by four children: Donna (husband: David) Penticuff, Cheryl (husband: Tony) Reynolds and Greg (wife: Debra) Sorrell, all of Muncie, and James (wife: Deanna) Sorrell of New Castle. He is also survived by nine grandchildren: Paul (wife: Sabra) Douglas and Adam (wife: Christina) Douglas both of Muncie; Amanda Hathaway, Gaston; Alyssa Sorrell (Andrew Storie) of Yorktown; Tyler Reynolds (fiancée Alyssa Gary), Anderson; Emily (husband: Tim) Richardson, Edgewood, OH.; Shannon Sorrell, Indianapolis; Ian Sorrell, New Castle, and Darren Sorrell (wife: Hannah), Fort Worth, Texas. He is also survived by seven great-grandchildren: Lynley, Myla, Isaac and Eleanor Douglas, Alex Stevens, Veronica Richardson and Michael Griffith.
Calling will be at 11:30 a.m. Monday, June 3, at Garden View Funeral Home, Muncie. The funeral service will be at 1:30 p.m. with Deacon Paul Douglas officiating. Interment will be in Gardens of Memory Cemetery.
Memorials may be made to the Town of Eaton in support of K9 Officer Bane or to Riley Hospital for Children, Indianapolis.