George Willard Sonricker

Dad was born at home in Attica, NY on Jun 24, 1934 to George J. and Mabel Lindsey Sonricker. He was the youngest of five siblings including: Earl, Harold, Laverne (Jim), and Helen. On April 19, 1935, he was baptized at the United Methodist Church in Attica. There were some other boys his age in the neighborhood and they spent time playing in the fields and woods. He attended a one room school house a half mile down the road through 8th grade. After that, he moved on the Attica High School, Attica, NY. Although he got good grades at the schoolhouse, high school was a different matter. Classes at the schoolhouse had not been as rigorous and it was a struggle to catch up but he graduated on time in 1952. During school he played on the basketball and baseball teams. Out of school he helped on the farm milking cows, raising crops and making maple syrup. He also attended dances around the area and met Mom at a dance in the American Legion Hall at Warsaw Park. Once he was out of school, he had no real direction for what to do. He married Mom on Nov 6, 1954 and almost immediately enlisted in the Army. He went through basic and advanced training to be a tank crew member at Ft. Knox, KY. His biggest memory of being there was how cold and miserable it was. From there, he was assigned to the 66th Tank Bn, 3rd Armored Div, Baumholder, Germany. Mom followed him a little later. They were two kids having the time of their lives for a couple years. Both said that it was the best time of their lives. They had no clue what they were doing and didn't care. While there, their first child, Kevin, was born. Upon returning home, he was discharged at Fort Hamilton, NY as a Specialist 4th Class. He worked at Godrey's Mill in Attica and then as a truck driver for Elon Bey Milk Haulers over the next few years while living in apartments in Attica and Varysburg. He also helped out on the family farm. Their second and third children, Kathleen and David were born during this time. In 1959, he became a corrections officer for the NYS Department of Corrections, eventually getting a permanent position at the Attica Correctional facility. His last child, Diane, was born in 1961. Dad worked on the farm with his father and brother Jim during this time too until his father died and his brother decided to retire from farming. After selling all the cows, he converted the farm to a Christmas Tree farm. Finally, in Mar 1991, he retired from Attica Correctional Facility and continued to raise and sell Christmas trees until selling the business to his nephew. Throughout this time he enjoyed hunting, fishing, camping, and traveling. Saturday nights were often spent at the Moose Club in Warsaw hanging out, dancing and enjoying friends. Dad also was a member of the Immanuel United Church of Christ in Orangeville. Due to failing health of both he and Mom, they moved into assisted living at the Manor House in Batavia, NY in 2023. After Mom's death in Aug 2024, his health continued to decline and he entered the NYS Veterans Home in Batavia in Jul 2025. He remained there until his death in Feb 2026.

Dad talks about his time in the military: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1SpBlnjffYfQIDu6pvs9EK9fHF-YnxbQB/view?usp=drive_link