Ronald Marlin Knorr

Dr. Ronald Marlin Knorr, age 57, husband of Pamela Berner Knorr, passed away peacefully surrounded by his family on Monday, January 8, 2018. He was born September 9th, 1960 at Donaldson Air Force Base in Greenville, SC to the late Marlin Robert Knorr and Chattalee (Dempsey) Knorr. Ron graduated from Clemson University in 1981 with a Bachelor of Science in Financial Management. He was a member of Alpha Phi Omega National Service Fraternity. Ron married Pamela Berner in May, 1981. In 1987 he received a Master of Business Administration degree in Accounting from the University of North Florida. In the financial world he held many positions including Auditor, Controller, Vice President of Finance, and CPA. In November of 2000, Ron received a renewed lease on life through the gift of a kidney and pancreas transplant from his donor David Hughes. With a renewed outlook on life he decided to become a teacher – obtaining his Master of Arts degree in teaching from Clemson University in 2005. Ron began teaching at the Middle School level including several years at Laurens Middle School and Greenville County schools. Over the years, Ron taught at several universities, including Clemson University, University of Phoenix, Erskine College, and Tri-County Technical College. He also published numerous articles as well as co-authored a book, ”The Segregated Georgia School for the Deaf 1882 – 1975” during his career. In 2010, Ron received his Doctor of Philosophy degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Clemson University and began teaching at Mercer University in Georgia. Ron retired from Mercer in 2016 as Associate Professor and Chair. Over the years Ron has worked with the Smithsonian Institution’s Museum of African American History and Culture, and other organizations, on projects to document Rosenwald Schools. He was a member of Phi Kappa Phi, Alpha Epsilon Lambda, Kappa Delta Pi, and Beta Gamma Sigma. Ron was selected as a 2014 Teacher of Honor by Kappa Delta Pi. He is survived by his beloved wife Pam, his Father and Mother-in-Law, Rex and Margaret Berner, a brother Terrald Knorr (Lynn), a nephew Dempsey Knorr, an uncle, Jerrald Dempsey (Carol), and cousins Wendy Dempsey McCarter, Michelle Dempsey and Elizabeth Dempsey Piper. A memorial will be held 01-20-2018 at 11 am at Blue Ridge Presbyterian Church, 2094 Highway 101 North, Greer SC. In Lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in Ron’s name to the Palmetto Chapter of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation at https://goo.gl/cDpwPi or Donate Life South Carolina at 22 Centre East, 4200 East North Street, Greenville, SC 29615.

Ronald Marlin Knorr

September 9, 1960 - January 8, 2018