John Barber Harrison

1927 - 2021

John Barber Harrison
May 30, 1927 - May 21, 2021
Charlotte, North Carolina - John Barber Harrison, 93, died May 21, 2021. John was born May 30, 1927 in Takoma Park and grew up in Chevy Chase, Maryland. He was the son of Frank Hastings Harrison and Harriet Barber Harrison. His father came to America from England seeking opportunity in 1910 when he was just 17. John had two brothers, Bert (deceased) and Donald; and a sister, Elaine all of whom he dearly loved and celebrated with at reunions.
John graduated from Devitt Prep School in Washington, DC in May 1945 and reported to boot camp two weeks later, serving in the US Army in France and Germany until 1947. He then attended The University of Florida, where the student body elected him Editor-in-Chief of the University's newspaper. He also served as President of Phi Delta Theta fraternity.
On December 29, 1950, John married Eleanor June Adams, daughter of a Southern gentleman lawyer from Macon, Georgia. Throughout their life together, he affectionately referred to June as "heets". June & John have two sons, Paul (Deborah) and George (Kim), all of whom he loved unconditionally. John became "Pop" when grandchildren Drew, JP (Grace), Carson (Parker), & Mack were born. Pop has 3 great-grandchildren:
Parker, Harrison, and "Jack", a brand-new John Harrison born just last week.
Upon graduation in 1951, John was recruited by Price Waterhouse to the US headquarters in Manhattan. In 1958, he earned his CPA shortly after employment in Orlando with Fortune 100 Martin Marietta's Orlando Aerospace Division. John retired 25 years later, finishing as Chief Financial Officer with another Martin subsidiary, SODYECO, in Mt. Holly.
John worked diligently to grow into the kind-hearted, compassionate, gentle, humble, charitably-minded man he believed his Maker approved of. He supported organizations including the Humane Society, ASPCA, Sisters of Mercy, Salvation Army, Nature Conservancy, Judicial Watch, and construction of the National Museum of the US Army. He had a diverse range of interests over his life, ranging from everything Ronald Reagan, the Bible and spiritual analyses to good bourbon and cigars, fine wine, music and philosophy, to baseball, golf, and antique shows with "heets" in Nashville.
The family would like to express a heartfelt thanks to "Dr. Josh" Shoemake and his H3 Healthcare team for their loving & compassionate care for John over the years.
A Celebration of Life will be announced at a later date. Rest-in-Peace Pop -- You went out a champ.