George Richard Harbison

George Richard Harbison, 84, passed away on December 26, 2022. He was born on March 30, 1938 in Whittier, CA to Richard LeRoy and Crystal Cordelia Harbison. George grew up in Southern, CA where he built hot rods as a young man and fought forest fires for the state of California and also the federal fire service until he was drafted into the U.S. Army and served between 1957 and 1959. 

Then, he married Angela Paéz of El Paso, TX and together they raised six children, have seventeen grandchildren, and so far, twelve great-grandchildren.  He was the only union-signatory masonry contractor for decades in the El Paso, West Texas, and Southern New Mexico Areas all the while maintaining his Gold Card membership with the International Union of Bricklayers & Allied Craftsmen.

George was a proud Social Democrat who did everything in his power to advance the Labor Movement to adequately compensate skilled craftsmen and protect their rights in the workforce while leaving many impressive masonry works all over El Paso and handfuls away, too.  His skilled bricklayers still have a hard-earned and unmatched reputation because he got the best out of them and they gave their best to the projects which he proudly led.

He is preceded in death by his parents Richard LeRoy and Crystal Cordelia Harbison, his sister Charlotte Winters, and his eldest son, George Angel Harbison. 

He is survived by his sister, Crystal Ponton of Chula Vista, CA. George is also survived by his wife of 63 years, Angela Paéz Harbison, and by his surviving children, Angela Dolores Vichick (Jeff), Carmen Linda Peer (Brian), Cristina Elvira Harbison, Sylvia Anita Harbison and Richard Luis Harbison. 

His surviving seventeen grandchildren are: Rose, Angel, Lino, George and Lupita (George); Angela, Nicki (Angela); Gage, Katelyn and Meagan (Carmen); Cristina, Maria, Marcos (Cristina); Ana, Angela, Rick (Sylvia); and Hailey (Richard).

His surviving twelve great-grandchildren are: Nathan, Benjamin, Delilah, Giovani, Valentine (George); Violet, Ace (Carmen); Mila, Teresa (Cristina); Asher, Sofia, Eva (Sylvia).

Blessed Rosary will be held at 6:00 PM on Monday, January 2, 2023 at Sunset Funeral Home on 750 N. Carolina, El Paso, TX  79915 and Funeral Mass will be held Tuesday, January 3, 2023 at 11:00 AM at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church at 2709 Alabama St.  Interment will follow at 12:30 PM at Mount Carmel Cemetery, 401 S. Zaragoza Rd.

In lieu of flowers, the Harbison Family requests donations to Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church.