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Dr. Ray Vincent Sonner of Harrisonburg died on Aug. 10, 2012, surrounded by his family.
The son of the late Albert M. Sonner and Edna Stafford Sonner, he was born on March 15, 1925, in Strasburg, Va.
On June 9, 1948, Dr. Sonner married Phyllis Hawthorne Sonner of Pittsburgh, Pa., who survives. He is also survived by two children,; one granddaughter,; a grandson, ; and three great-grandchildren,.
A son, Terry Reynolds Sonner, preceded him in death.
A graduate of Strasburg High School, Dr. Sonner was valedictorian of the class of '43. After completing his freshman year at Lynchburg College, Dr. Sonner enlisted in the Army and served in the Pacific Theater during World War II. After the war, he completed his Bachelor of Arts degree at Lynchburg College in 1949.
While teaching English at Harrisonburg High School, he successfully pursued his master's degree at the University of Virginia. He served as principal at Harrisonburg High School from 1958 to 1963. In 1964, Dr. Sonner became the youngest school superintendent in Virginia and only the third person to occupy that position in Harrisonburg. During his tenure as superintendent, he completely integrated the city's schools, directed the planning and construction of the Industrial Arts Complex, Warren Field House and Harrisonburg High School, and reduced the pupil-teacher ratio to one of the lowest in Virginia.
Sonner later became director of Educational Field Services and Placement and served as executive assistant to President G. Tyler Miller of Madison College. He received his Doctor of Education degree from the University of Virginia in 1974. Under President Ronald E. Carrier, Sonner served as executive assistant, vice president for university relations, and senior vice president and secretary to the Visitors of JMU. Under his leadership, legislation to change the name to James Madison University was unanimously passed by the Virginia legislature. He was administratively responsible for development, public relations, publications, alumni relations, and, for a time, intercollegiate athletics. He organized the Duke Club and Greater Madison.
Along with Congressman Burr Harrison, he founded the James Madison University Foundation (nee Madison College Foundation) and served as executive director, president and chairman. He retired as JMU's senior vice president in 1980. He was named senior vice president emeritus and professor emeritus. In 2001, he was named president emeritus of the JMU Foundation.
Dr. Sonner received the James Madison University Distinguished Service Award and the James Madison University Alumni Service Award. Sonner Hall on the JMU campus is named in his honor. In 1980, the Council for the Advancement and Support of Higher Education cited Dr. Sonner for "A Quarter Century of Service to Education." He was named to Who's Who in Education. Dr. Sonner was a former member of the Harrisonburg Rockingham Chamber of Commerce board of directors. He was a past member of Spotswood Country Club, a life member of the Distributive Education Clubs of America and Mensa.
He attended Muhlenberg Lutheran Church and had been councilman three terms, lay communion assistant and a member of the finance committee.
his body will be cremated
DNRonline-Aug-2012
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1925 - 2012 (87 years)
