Harris E. Dark

Harris Edward "Harry" Dark, retired magazine writer and book author, died Thursday, Nov. 17, 2005, at the Missouri Veterans Home in Mt. Vernon after a long illness. He was 82. A Springfield native, Mr. Dark raised his family of seven children here. He and his wife of 53 years, Phyllis, moved back to Springfield from Bandera, Texas, about 10 years ago. Mrs. Dark died in 2003. A graduate of Senior High School (now Central), Mr. Dark received two degrees from State Teachers College (now MSU). He served with the U.S. Army Air Corps in the China-Burma-India Theater in World War II and was honorably discharged a sa sergeant. After working in radio in Springfield and Janesville, Wisc., Mr. Dark married and moved to Chicago, Ill., working as an exporter before beginning his career as a writer. Over 35 years, Mr. Dark's articles appeared in dozens of magazines and newspapers, including Changing Times, Better Homes & Gardens, Family Circle, Reader's Digest and Popular Mechanics. He was editor of Family Safety and CNA Direction magazines. His most frequent topics were travel, automobiles and safety. Mr. Dark wrote five books-Auto Engines of Tomorrow and The Wankel Rotary Engine (both for Indiana University Press) and, with Phyllis, three travel/history books: The Greatest Ozarks Guidebook, Springfield of the Ozarks, and Springfield, Missouri. Mr. Dark was a member of St. Agnes Cathedral. His parents were Melville E. Dark and Katherine Amelia (O'Dowd) Dark. He was preceded in death by his parents, a brother and two sisters. Mr. Dark took great pride in his family. He leaves his seven children and their families: Katie and Steve Hilton, John and Tim, of Lebanon, Mo. Mike and Melinda Dark of Carrollton, Texas Joan and Ed Harter, Michael, Ben and Annie, of Springfield Chris and Bob Ross, of San Diego, Calif. Dr. Diana Dark and Kirk Wulff, Libby and Matthew, of Prairie Village, Kan. Drs. Beverly and Leland Graves, Ian, Emma and Jonah, of Lee's Summit, Mo. and Emily and John Bailey, of Overland Park, Kan. Prayer service will be at 6:30 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 20, at Gorman-Scharpf Brentwood Chapel with visitation to follow until 8 p.m. Memorial Mass will be at 12:30 p.m. Monday in St. Agnes Cathedral with burial to follow in Springfield National Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to Seasons Hospice Inc., 1354 E. Kingsley, Springfield, MO 65804.