SLS 20RS-967 ORIGINAL
2020 Regular Session
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 52
BY SENATOR FOIL
CONDOLENCES. Expresses condolences upon the death of Charles E. Severance.
1 A RESOLUTION
2 To express the sincere condolences of the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana upon the
3 death of Charles E. Severance.
4 WHEREAS, it is with deep regret and profound sorrow that the citizens of Louisiana
5 learned of the death of Charles E. Severance on March 22, 2020, at the age of ninety-seven;
6 and
7 WHEREAS, Charles E. Severance was a native of Darlington, South Carolina, and
8 a longtime resident of Baton Rouge, Louisiana; and
9 WHEREAS, Mr. Severance built his life around family, friends, and service, and
10 valued education, a strong work ethic, and loyalty; and
11 WHEREAS, he worked selflessly and tirelessly to help others, including supporting
12 all six of his children through college; and
13 WHEREAS, Mr. Severance was a strong supporter of 4-H and a member of the
14 Louisiana 4-H Hall of Fame; and
15 WHEREAS, he grew up on the family farm in Darlington of modest means and won
16 the national 4-H Electrical Contest to earn a scholarship to attend Clemson University; and
17 WHEREAS, Mr. Severance was called to service by his country in World War II,
18 serving from 1943 to 1946 in the 97th Infantry Division, was stationed at Camp Lucky Strike
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1 in France, and fought in the Battle of the Bulge; and
2 WHEREAS, he was also stationed in Japan, and after World War II, he completed
3 his undergraduate degree from Clemson University in 1949 and earned a Master of Science
4 in 1957 from Louisiana State University (LSU) in agricultural engineering; and
5 WHEREAS, his first job after graduation was with LSU Cooperative Extension,
6 where he proudly worked until his retirement; and
7 WHEREAS, Mr. Severance loved Louisiana, enjoying family time at the camp he
8 built on False River, attending 4-H events across the state, and hosting large family
9 gatherings in Zachary, Louisiana, where his wife Winifred grew up,; and
10 WHEREAS, he also shared Winifred's passion for LSU as a long-time football
11 season ticket holder, enjoyed crawfish boils and many other events with his close friends at
12 the LSU Faculty Club, and supported four of his children in their pursuit of degrees from
13 LSU; and
14 WHEREAS, in honor of his seventy-fifth birthday, the Charles E. Severance
15 Endowed Fellowship was created to benefit LSU students majoring in biological and
16 agricultural engineering; and
17 WHEREAS, Mr. Severance loved to serve his community and was a member of the
18 Louisiana Professional Engineering and Land Survey Board, the Capital Area Soil and Water
19 Conservation Committee, the LSU Faculty Club Board, the EBR Cattleman's Association,
20 the EBR Farm Bureau, and the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers,
21 and served as a past commander of American Legion Boyd-Ewing Post 58; and
22 WHEREAS, he received numerous honors and distinctions for his service over the
23 years and utilized his Professional Registered Engineer's license to design many structures
24 related to the 4-H camp as well as Cooperative Extension offices and livestock show
25 facilities across the state; and
26 WHEREAS, Charles and Winifred Severance lived more than sixty years on Albert
27 Hart Drive where they raised their six children and where they planted oak seedlings upon
28 moving into their new home; and
29 WHEREAS, those seedlings took root and are now beautiful, massive oak trees,
30 which serve as a reminder of the lasting love they bestowed upon their family and everyone
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1 who knew them; and
2 WHEREAS, the family home was a cherished gathering spot throughout the years,
3 as the children and grandchildren loved to enjoy the home and life that Charles and Winifred
4 built; and
5 WHEREAS, Mr. Severance is survived by his children: Susan, Ann, Kay, Barbara,
6 and Bill; and grandchildren: Liz, Patrick, Paul, Annie, Caroline, Charles, Emma, and Klara;
7 and
8 WHEREAS, he was preceded in death by his loving wife of sixty-one years,
9 Winifred Loudon Severance; their eldest son, Charles E. Severance Jr.; his parents, William
10 James and Malissie McAlister Severance; and his siblings Raymond, Hudson, and Mary
11 Eunice; and
12 WHEREAS, with the death of Charles E. Severance, Louisiana has lost one of its
13 finest sons, a quintessential southern gentleman who loved his community and whose
14 accomplishments have left an indelible mark upon his community, state, and nation; and
15 WHEREAS, his death has left a substantial void in the Baton Rouge community and
16 a sense of loss in the citizens whose lives he touched, and his memory shall live forever in
17 the minds and hearts of all those who knew and loved this remarkable gentleman.
18 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana
19 does hereby express sincere and heartfelt condolences upon the death of Charles E.
20 Severance, record for posterity his outstanding achievements, and extend enduring
21 appreciation for the tremendous pride and honor that he will forever bring to the Baton
22 Rouge community, the state of Louisiana, and the United States of America.
23 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the
24 family of Charles E. Severance.
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Nancy Vicknair.
DIGEST
SR 52 Original 2020 Regular Session Foil
Expresses condolences upon the death of Charles E. Severance.
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