William Randolph “Bill” Harris Sr., 68, a resident of the Cassity community where he made his home with his daughter, Norma Harris, and Randy Shreve, passed away Friday, Aug. 30, 2002, at 6:15 a.m. in the Oakland VA Hospital in Pittsburgh, Pa., where he was admitted on Aug. 29. He had been in failing heath for the past year.
Born Nov. 13, 1933, at Elkins, he was the son of the late C.W. “Red” and Gladys Moore Harris.
He was formerly married to Betty Sturms, who survives in Montrose.
In addition to his former wife, he is survived by three daughters, Mrs. Donald (Anita) Taylor of Martinsburg, Norma Harris and Randy Shreve of Cassity and Mrs. Luther (Henri Etta) Jones of El Paso, Texas; and three sons, William R. “Billy” Harris Jr. and Clifford Harris and Brenda Shreve, all of Valley Bend, and Donald “Tater” Harris of Montrose.
Also surviving are 13 grandchildren, Jason, Amanda and Jeremy Harris, Josh and Donnie Taylor, Luther Jones Jr., Cassandra Harris, Justin Curtis, Jessica and Bradley Shifflett, Cody and Caitlin Harris and Courtney Shreve; two great-granddaughters, Makayla and Abigail Harris; one great-grandson, Neven Shiflett; and several nieces and nephews.
He was the last surviving member of his immediate family and was preceded in death by an infant daughter and an infant brother.
Harris was a graduate of Tygarts Valley High School with the class of 1951. He, along with his father, ran the Harris Dairy Farm for several years. He was also employed by the Wimi Lumber Co. as a boilerman until becoming disabled. He was a veteran and served in the U.S. Army. He loved talking to people and never met a stranger. He enjoyed singing to all of his grandchildren and loved country music.
He attended the Valley Bend United Methodist Church and was a member of the H.W. Daniels Post 29 American Legion and the Disabled American Veterans.
Friends will be received at the F.E. Runner Funeral Home Chapel today after 6 p.m. Funeral services will be conducted from the Runner Chapel on Wednesday at 1 p.m. The Rev. Frank Long, pastor of the Mill Creek Memorial Mission Church, will officiate. Interment will follow in the Zirkle Cemetery at Cassity, where full military services will be conducted by the Tygart Valley Post 3647 Veterans of Foreign Wars and the H.W. Daniels Post 29 American Legion.
