Dr. George Sicily Torrey

Dr. George Sicily Torrey, 65, of Danville, passed away at 4:05 p.m. on Monday, November 22, 2004 at VA Illiana Health Care System in Danville. He was born December 23, 1938 in East St. Louis, Illinois, the son of Dr. James Philip and Celia Almyra (North) Torrey. He married Marguerite Sherman on July 12, 1969 in Cincinnati, Ohio. He is survived by: his wife of over 35 years- Marguerite S. Torrey of Danville; 1 Son- Andrew North (Jill Sublett) Torrey of Champaign; 1 Daughter- Kathryn Meghan Torrey of Danville; 1 Grandson - Miles C. Torrey; 1 Brother- Dr. Kenneth R. (Catherine) Torrey of Owatonna, MN; 1 Sister- Bettie Suzanne Torrey Carr of Ypsilanti, MI; 4 Nephews and 1 Niece. He was preceded in death by his parents, and 1 Brother- James Seymour Torrey. George received a B.S. in Bacteriology from Iowa State University in 1962; M.S. in Food Technology from Iowa State University in 1964; and a Ph.D. with a joint major in Food Science and Bacteriology from University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1976. He served in the U.S. Army during Vietnam as a Captain from March 10, 1965 to December 19, 1966, including serving a year in the quartermaster corps in Saigon. He was a professor at University of Southern Mississippi from 1977-1982 and at South Dakota State University from 1982-1989. He most recently worked as Vice President of research and development for Creative Products in Rossville from 1989-2001. He was a member of Martin Luther King Celebration Committee, served on the board of the Danville Tennis Club, was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Danville, where he taught Sunday school, and served as a deacon and lifelong elder. He enjoyed tennis, fishing, politics, theology and being outdoors.