Russell Harris Jr

Russell Harris was born July 7, 1930 in Marinette, Wisconsin to Russell Harris and Marjorie Stout. He later moved to Illinois where he graduated from Auburn High School in 1948. He attended Springfield Junior College in Illinois and Southern Illinois University. He joined the military and was discharged as Airman First Class in 1955. He began a career as an Electronics Technician in the Ballistic Missile Agency lab at Huntsville, AL before being assigned to Cape Canaveral, FL in July of 1957 as an Electronics Engineer. Mr. Harris was involved in NASA's early rocket programs beginning in 1958 including the historic Mercury and Gemini programs and the first moon landing in 1969. He later began working out of St. Louis, MO in the area of Government Contracting for the US Army. At the age of 63 he reenlisted to aid in Operation Desert Shield at the beginning of the Gulf War in 1990 assisting in the deployment of millions of tons of equipment and over half a million personnel. He was discharged in 1991.
He was preceded in death by his wife Carol Bourland, a sister Sandra Shepherd, two nieces Kimberly Hill and Laura Leiswald, and one nephew, Tyler Tarvin. He is survived by his sons Russell Harris of Oklahoma City, OK; William (Kelly) Harris of Cape Canaveral, FL; one daughter, Diane Johnson of Bethany MO; his sister Ruby (Carol) Goodsell of Hoisington, KS; 8 grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. A celebration of life will be held in Bethany, MO at a later date.