Edwin Harold Sorensen

Edwin Harold Sorensen, 86, of Charleston, South Carolina, husband of Helen Frances Eels Sorensen, entered into eternal rest Sunday, October 30, 2016. His funeral service will be held Saturday, November 5, 2016, at North Charleston United Methodist Church,1125 E. Montague Avenue, North Charleston, at 12:30 p.m. Arrangements by J. Henry Stuhr Inc., West Ashley Chapel.

Edwin was born September 10, 1930 in Brooklyn, New York, son of the late Carl Christian Sorensen and Sigfrida Larsen Sorensen. As a youth, he was a Boy Scout, played baseball and was very active in the Methodist Youth Fellowship, and attended summer camp with the Salvation Army.

Edwin received his Bachelor of Arts in Education from Cortland State University. He taught elementary and secondary school. He earned his Master's Degree from Columbia University Library School and taught Library Science as an adjunct professor at C.W. Post College and taught in the public schools on Long Island, NY. He enlisted into the Navy during the Korean War, served on a destroyer and was in charge of the ship's office. Edwin married Helen Eels on June 22, 1957. Shortly after marriage, they moved to La Rochelle, France, where he taught in the Army schools. Upon returning to the USA, he was an educator and librarian, retiring from the Northport School District. He and Helen moved to Charleston in 2000 to be closer to his family. Edwin enjoyed playing tennis, sailing, playing bridge and body surfing, but his greatest joy was spending time with his family. He was an avid reader, enjoyed his newspaper every morning with his coffee and liked to watch history shows and documentaries. He had a great sense of humor and will be lovingly cherished for his glowing warmth and passion for all people.

He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Helen Frances Sorensen of Charleston, SC; four children: Leah McNellis (Ed) of Charleston, SC, Kirsten Romanzo (Ed) of Niskayuna, NY, Jeanine Witkowski (Joe) of San Diego, CA, and Aaron Sorensen (Jennifer) of Oneonta, NY; ten grandchildren: Douglas McNellis, Shannon McNellis, Zachary McNellis, Natalia Romanzo, Eddie Romanzo (Lisa), Kathleen Ketsef (Yoni), Joey Witkowski, Amanda Witkowski, Dylan Sorensen, and Tyler Sorensen; brother, Walter Sorensen (Lois) of Denton, TX; and many nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Alzheimer Research and Clinical Programs MUSC, 5900 Core Road, North Charleston, SC 29406, ALZ.org http://alz.org/ and/or North Charleston United Methodist Church, 1125 E. Montague Avenue, North Charleston, SC 29405.