Obituary of George Theodorson

George A. Theodorson, 86, of State Copllege, passed away Monday, December 20, 2010 at Mount Nittany Medical Center. He was born October 19, 1924, the son of the late Achilles and Anna Debos Theodorson. He served in the U.S. Army, 710th Tank Battalion in World War II, from 1943 to 1946, in the Pacific Theater and the Philippines. After the war he attended Cornell University, where he received his B.A. 1950, M.A. 1951, and Ph.D. 1954. He conducted research for his doctoral dissertation at the University of Chicago from 1953 to 1954. From 1954 to 1956 he taught at the University of Buffalo. George came to Penn State in 1956, and was Professor of Sociology until his retirement in 1986. He held a Fulbright Professorship at the University of Rangoon, Burma (Myanmar) from 1958 to 1959 and at the University of Vienna, Austria from 1963 to 1964. George published four books including A Modern Dictionary of Sociology with his father, which was translated into Italian and Spanish editions and appears in many other editions including British and Canadian. His Studies in Human Ecology also was translated into Spanish. He also published many articles in scholarly journals. A number of which were translated into various languages. He enjoyed gardening, playing the violin, refinishing old furniture and collecting antiques. George is survived by his wife of 60 years, Lucille, his daughter, Carol Shellock,. son in-law, Andy Shellock, grandson, Kyle Shellock, all of Chalfont, his brother Robert of Salt Lake City, Utah, sisters, Rosalie Brundage of Middletown, New York, and Ann Florio of Farmingdale, New York, and nieces and nephews. A funeral service will be held at the Koch Funeral Home, 2401 S. Atherton Street, State College on Thursday, December 23, 2010 at 2 PM with Rev. Alfred W. Wilson officiating. Burial will be in Boalsburg Cemetery.