Harold Wallace “Wally” Harris
Harold “Wally” Harris, age 96, of Carolina Trace, Sanford, NC died on January 5, 2012 at Liberty Commons Rehabilitation Center in Sanford. A memorial service will be held at St. Luke’s United Methodist Church on Wicker Street in Sanford on Monday, January 9th at 11:00AM. There will be a reception immediately following at the Carolina Trace Country Club in Sanford.
Wally was a lifelong resident of Towanda, PA until he moved to Carolina Trace in Sanford, NC in 1997. He was the son of the late Nellie Baker Harris and Earl “Keener” Harris.
Wally was an employee at GTE Sylvania for 41 years, retiring in 1979. He was one of the original employees when Sylvania purchased the Fluorescent Powder Division from Patterson Screen Company. Wally held the position of Personnel Manager at the plant.
He was very active in the Towanda Community, spending many years on the Towanda School Board, serving as President for several years. He was also President of the Towanda Recreation board, member of the Board at Memorial Hospital, past President of the Towanda Sylvania Men’s Club, past President of the Bradford County IMC and was on the Board of Directors for several years. He served as Director of Towanda Country Club and was a Director of the Towanda Bowling Association. He was also a member of the Board of Serve, Inc. in Towanda. Wally served in the Armed Services during World War II from 1942-1946. He was in the Chemical Warfare Service where he attained the rank Master Sergeant. He served in the Southwest Pacific in Australia, New Guinea and the Philippines.
Wally was very active in athletic activities, playing for many years on the North Towanda and Towanda Town Baseball teams. He played in the Community Softball and Basketball Leagues and was an avid golfer and bowler. He was a five time champion at Towanda Country Club and bowled the first 700 Series in the Towanda Bowling Association. In Sanford, Wally was active in golf, playing at the Carolina Trace Country Club where he had 3 holes-in-one and shot his age on his 90th birthday. He also bowled in two leagues; the Tracers and the Sanford Senior League where he held the position of Treasurer for several years.
Wally was also a musician and played sax and clarinet for many years with the Hal Ritter Orchestra in Towanda.
He is survived by his wife, Helen Lintern Mahon Harris; two daughters Linda Harris and Sue Harris Bredel of Deep Creek, MD.
Memorial donations may be sent to Carolina Trace Country Club or St. Luke United Methodist Church both in Sanford, NC.
Online condolences may be made at www.millerboles.com
Miller-Boles Funeral Home of Sanford is serving the family.
January 6th, 2012 at 7:38 pm
Helen, I will always remember your sincere faith — and stories of your romance with Wally. How blessed you were in your years together. We send our sincere sympathy.
January 7th, 2012 at 7:26 am
To the Harris Family,
My father, Don Talada, and Wally worked together many years at GTE, retiring within a few years of each other. Our thought are with you.
January 7th, 2012 at 2:43 pm
We are former neighbors from Towanda
and want you to know that our prayers
and thoughts are with you at this
time.
January 7th, 2012 at 7:11 pm
Dear Harris Family,
How very saddened we were to read of Wally’s passing. We will always have the fondest of memories from our years of golfing together. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.
January 7th, 2012 at 8:44 pm
Helen — I will always remember Wally with that little twinkle in his eye — the one that you put there. My thoughts and prayers are with you.
January 7th, 2012 at 10:24 pm
Sue & Family,
So sorry to read about your Father. He was such a friendly person. I remember him from Sylvania and the bowling alley and from being with your Aunt Marge. Cherish your memories. Your family is in my thoughts and prayers.
January 8th, 2012 at 12:59 pm
Our most sincere condolences to Wallis’s wife Helen, his two daughters and family. We will remember Wally fondly as a most gracious and friendly person as he and Helen always greeted us at many Carolina Trace Club events we both attended over the years. Wally has been blessed having lived 96 years, and may the Lord’s blessings be with Helen at this time.
January 9th, 2012 at 1:21 pm
To Helen and Wally’s family:
I feel blessed that he was my friend.
February 12th, 2012 at 11:08 pm
To Sue,
My dad was saddened by your father’s passing and sent me his obituary. My condolences to you and your family. I haven’t seen your father in many years, but I remember him as a very warm and pleasant man. I’m very sorry for your loss.