Mr. Royce C. "Yogi" Sormrude

Warren Holloway Ward Funeral Home

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Posted by: Warren Holloway Ward FH
[email protected]
334-684-9999
Date: Jul 31 2022 1:20 PM

Royce C. “Yogi” Sormrude of Samson, Alabama went to his heavenly home on July 30, 2022, at the age of 72.

 

Funeral services, with military honors, will be held at 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, August 3, 2022 at the First Baptist Church of Samson, Alabama with the Rev. Danny Branch and Rev. Sam Totten officiating and Warren Holloway Ward Funeral Home of Geneva directing. Visitation will be at the church on Wednesday beginning at 4:00 p.m. and continue until service time. In lieu of flowers, the family request memorial contributions be made to the Samson First Baptist Church Women’s Ministry.

 

Yogi was born October 12, 1949 in Andalusia, AL to the late Louis M. Sormrude and Glenda Ritter.  He was raised in Samson by his loving and devoted great-grandparents, J.C. and Carrie Grimes, where he was a proud graduate of Samson High School class of 1968. Following graduation, he entered the U.S. Army and served from 1970-1991, serving as an SFC, a total of 21 years, overall. Yogi was a proud veteran of the Vietnam War from 1971 to 1972, assigned to the 1^st Calvary Division “Ghost Riders” helicopter assault unit, based out of Ft. Hood, TX. His other assignments during his military career included, 25^th Infantry Division, Schofield, Barracks, HI; 101 APD, Ft. Campbell, KY; 172^nd Infantry Brigade., Anchorage, AK; Tripler Army Medical Center, Tripler, HI; Dwight D. Eisenhower Medical Center, Ft. Gordon, GA; Walston Army Community Hospital, Ft. Dix, NJ. After retiring from the U.S. Army as a Behavioral Specialist, he was employed with civil contractor Global Associates as an instructor of Army Deployable Medical Units and Plans/Operations Manager from 1991 to 1994.  From 1996 to 2010, he was a Warehouse Manager of UAP/CPS in Kinston, AL.  Yogi was a life-long member of Samson First Baptist Church, and was known for his talent of making knives, becoming the owner / operator of “Snuff City Knives”. 

 

In addition to his parents and great-grandparents, he was preceded in death by his wife of 46 years, Debi Sormrude; two brothers, Rick Sormrude and Robert “Bob” Caldwell.

 

Yogi is survived by his children; Rhonda Cleghorn (Martin) of Andalusia, AL, Brandi Long (Chip), Andalusia, AL, and Erik Sormrude (Nicole) of Samson, AL; ten grand-children, Brett, Tori, and M.J. Cleghorn, Madison and Meagan Long, Rylee, Ava, Emma, Kynlee and Reed Sormrude: one great-grandson, Nash Cleghorn; his siblings, Ron Sormrude (Pat) of West Palm Beach, FL, Rebecca “Becky” Caldwell and Russell Caldwell (Theresa) all of Freeport, FL, Richard Caldwell (Darlene) of Jay, FL and Tracy Jenkins (Joe) of Samson, AL and a host of special nieces, nephews, cousins, friends and extended family.

 

Warren~Holloway~Ward Funeral Home (334) 684-9999, is in charge of arrangements. "Continuing The Trust You’ve Placed In Us” To sign a guest register, please visit: www.whwfuneralhome.com  

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