Andrew D. Harris

Andrew D. Harris Andrew D. Harris, age 70, of Woodbridge died on July 28, 2010 at Mount Vernon Hospital.

Once upon a time, there was a man with a kind heart and a strong faith. He was born with his twin two months early. He weighed less than three pounds. These two boys fought for life with their fragile, undeveloped lungs, but they grew to be healthy, rough-and-tumble little boys, playing, scuffling and running up and down the creek bed. He was a quiet boy, preferring to let his twin take the limelight, but he was smart, funny and principled. He worked hard, he studied hard. He became a Boy Scout, a ham radio operator, a gymnast. He became an Eagle Scout. He went to Georgia Tech and became a Marine with a degree in Physics. He married Linda Lawrence. He had a little boy of his own. He earned a Master's degree. He served in Okinawa and then volunteered for a tour in Viet Nam. He came home and fathered a little girl. He said prayers with his children every night. He volunteered at church. He sang in the choir, played the guitar, and hummed all the time, without realizing it. He became a Scout-master. He supported his wife, and loved her with a twinkle in his eye that he reserved only for moments he thought they were alone. He saw his kids graduate and start their own families, which included a wonderful step-granddaughter and energetic grandson. His grandson called him "Poppy." He still volunteered, once wearing an upside-down metal colander on his head to play a kooky scientist for the kids at VBS. He deepened his commitment to the church, becoming one of the first Certified Lay Ministers in the Conference. He ministered to the elderly, the frail, the poor, the lonely and those who simply wished to meet a fellow pilgrim in their walk. He never missed an opportunity to help someone, if only with a kind word or two. He still had that twinkle in his eye for his wife. He picked her wildflowers. He loved cats, sunshine, Disney World and coffee. He loved to ham, to study the Bible and to watch baseball. He never gave up on a commitment he had made, not if he could help it. He elected for open heart surgery on April 12, and the rest, has been documented already. Dad fought the good fight for his first few weeks of life, and he did so again at the end of it. He lost that fight at 4 p.m. today. I ask you tonight not to say a prayer for this man, who is surely at a better place, free of suffering, but for all the thousands of people who will miss him, now that he's gone. And say a special prayer for those who knew and loved him best,

our Andy, Dad, Cupcake and Poppy. Thank you.

Memorial service will be August 7, 2010 at 2 p.m., Old Bridge United Methodist Church, 1966 Old Bridge Road, Woodbridge, Va.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to ACTS, 224 Main St., Dumfries, VA 22026 or Industrial and Commercial Ministries (ICM), ICM National Office 57 South Main Street, Suite 612, Harrisonburg, VA 22801. To offer the family condolences please visit www.millerfuneralhome.net





This obituary was originally published in the News & Messenger (Woodbridge, VA).