Eldon M Sonnenburg

On November 5, 2015 Eldon Malcome Sonnenburg died in McKinney, Texas and was laid to rest at Pecan Grove Cemetery in McKinney at a family graveside service. Eldon was born to Nina Olivia Butchee Sonnenburg and Theodore Henry Sonnenburg on September 6, 1920 in Rochester, Texas. He graduated from Shamrock High School in 1937 and North Texas State University in 1942. He enlisted in the Army Air Corps and served in the Air Corps band at Perrin Field until discharged in 1946. Returning to NTSU he earned his Master of Music degree in 1947.
He served as high school band director in Sinton, Texas, Crane, Texas, Sherman, Texas and Denison, Texas. He retired after 37 years of directing and also serving as church choir director in Crane, Key Memorial Methodist and Sherman Bible Church in Sherman.
He was a member of Phi Mu Alpha, Phi Beta Mu and Kappa Kappa Pi, honorary music fraternities and was inducted into the Texas Bandmasters Hall of Fame in 1991. Civic organizations where he served include Jaycees, Kiwanis Club and as a TMC Hospital Auxiliary volunteer for many years.
On November 3, 2015 Eldon and his wife Mary Ruth Holmes Sonnenburg, celebrated their 73rd wedding anniversary. He is survived by his son David Michael Sonnenburg and wife Marina of Denison, daughter Sylvia Sonnenburg Sheets of McKinney, six grandchildren, 18 great grandchildren and 5 great great grandchildren. Eldon was preceded in death by his son in law Gary Sheets.