Carl Obituary

Carl W. Sohns, 61, of Oak Ridge died at home on 03 May 2014 after a long struggle against pancreatic cancer. A native of Whitefish Bay, Wisconsin, Carl moved with his family to Asheville, North Carolina in 1971 and enrolled in Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College. He was drafted into the United States Army in 1972, and served at Fort Lee, Virginia. Following his honorable discharge, Carl completed his studies at AB Tech and came to Oak Ridge in 1977 as an electronics technician in the Centrifuge Division at K-25. Carl earned a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from the University of Tennessee in 1981 and returned to the centrifuge program, then transferred to ORNL's Instrumentation and Controls Division in 1985. During 28 years as a development engineer at ORNL, Carl worked on a variety of projects at all three Oak Ridge facilities as well as on national and international projects. He was widely known for his easygoing demeanor and quirky sense of humor as well as his considerable technical expertise. He received several patents and numerous awards, including a Secretary of Energy Achievement Honor Award and two R&D 100 awards, for his work before retiring in 2013. In his leisure time, Carl enjoyed challenging himself and mastering new skills. He was a licensed commercial pilot and certified flight instrument instructor, as well as a master scuba diver and skilled craftsman. In addition to aviation and scuba, Carl enjoyed motorcycling, model trains, travel, home projects and cooking. He appreciated fine machinery and enjoyed music of all genres. He was devoted to his cats and had a soft spot for all animals. Carl was the son of Carl B. Sohns and Geraldine S. Sohns, both deceased. He is survived by his wife, Susan Sherrow, of Oak Ridge and his brother, Richard Sohns, of Asheville. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Humane Society of the United States or the Lustgarten Foundation. A celebration of Carl's life will be held at a future date.