Berry Franklin Major

Berry ("Sonny") Franklin Major, Jr. passed away Tuesday, April 17, 2012 at Wellington Parc in Owensboro, Kentucky. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Sue Springer Major and his parents, Berry F. Major, Sr. and Dorothy Corum Major.
He is survived by his wife of 41 years, Linda Beyke Major, sons Robert (Shannon Greene) Major of Louisville, KY and Mitchell (Laurie) Major of Germantown, TN, his daughter Sarah Jane Major of Owensboro, KY, two grandsons, Springer Corum Major and Charles Berry Major of Germantown, TN, two brothers, John Robert (Brenda) Major of Henderson, KY and Tom (Donna) Major of Elizabethtown, KY, his "second" mother Sue Major of Providence, KY, one step-brother, David (Mary) Cardwell, two step-sisters Billie (Dr. Wayne) Cole and Betty (Dr. Jon) Dunn and many nieces and nephews.
Berry lived an accomplished life. Most recently he retired from the position of Alumni Director & Director of Planned Giving at Kentucky Wesleyan College from which he graduated with a BS in Chemistry in 1960. Prior to that he held numerous senior executive positions in manufacturing, working for IMO Industries in Monroe, NC, Trenton, NJ, and Columbia, KY, and earlier for General Electric in Milwaukee, WI, Louisville, KY and Owensboro, KY. He earned an MBA from the University of Wisconsin, Whitewater in 1977. Berry served proudly as a member of the United States Air Force including duty in Vietnam during the war and retired with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.
He was very active in the Methodist Church and a member of Settle Memorial UMC in Owensboro. For over 35 years he taught Sunday School and served as a lay minister and a Gideon. In recent years, Berry served on the Board of Directors for the Free Clinic of Owensboro and was a member of the Owensboro Lions Club. He lived and died an Eagle Scout.
Berry also had a rich background in education. In addition to his two degrees, he taught at Kentucky Wesleyan College, Wingate University (NC), and Lindsey Wilson College, where he partnered with Dr. John Begley to develop the business program. He also served as the Director of the Wake Forest University extension MBA program in Charlotte, NC. He was named an Outstanding Alumni at Kentucky Wesleyan College several years ago where he will also be recognized with a permanent place in the Alumni Hall of Fame this coming fall.
He loved University of Kentucky basketball and also, since his return to Owensboro in 1999 rarely missed a Kentucky Wesleyan basketball home game.
Throughout his military and business life he traveled extensively in the United States and around the world, earned respect and friendship from the very successful to the most simple of people. Despite a storied and successful life, when asked what he wanted to be remembered for, this child of Sebree, Kentucky always responded that more than anything else he wished to be remembered as a Man of God.
Funeral service will be 10 a.m. Saturday, April 21, 2012 at Settle Memorial United Methodist Church with Revs. Darren Brandon and John Weber officiating. Burial will be in Springdale Cemetery, Sebree, KY at 2 p.m.Saturday afternoon. Visitation will be from 4-8 p.m. Friday at Glenn Funeral Home and Crematory and after 9 a.m. Saturday at the church.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial contributions be made either to Kentucky Wesleyan College, The Major Family Scholarship Fund, 3000 Frederica St., Owensboro, KY 42301 or the Good Samaritan Fund, Settle Memorial United Methodist Church, 201 E. 4th St., Owensboro, KY 42303..
Online condolences may be left at www.glennfuneralhome.com.