FRANK C. HARRIS

HARRIS, FRANK C. Frank C. Harris, 94, passed away from heart failure in San Diego, CA on Tuesday, July 31, 2012. He was born in Winchester, IN on May 28, 1918 to Lawrence Harris and Eva (Skinner) Harris and spent his childhood and youth in the Winchester area. Frank received limited formal education but had an analytic mind and was mechanically adept. As an adolescent he decided that life in the U.S. Navy had more appeal than farming and he enlisted in December of 1937. While home on leave, he was introduced by his sister to Willodeen Lantz and the two corresponded for a year. On June 12, 1939, they were wed, having spent less than two weeks together, but forming a partnership that lasted through 73 years of successful marriage. Frank served on the USS Arizona, USS Pensacola, USS Wor-land, USS Phillips, USS St. Paul, USS Ranier, and USS Independence. His ships participated in the battles at Rabaul, Midway, the Coral Sea, Tarawa, and Tassafaronga Bay (where his ship was torpedoed). He retired as a Master Chief Gunner's Mate and was the recipient of the Navy Achievement Medal, the Navy Meritorious Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal, World War II Victory Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Atlantic- Pacific Campaign Medal with five stars, American Campaign Medal, American Defense Medal, and seven Good Conduct Medals. Frank will be remembered for his wonderful sense of humor, gregariousness, willingness to go out of his way for others, and especially for his loving dedication to his wife. In addition to his wife who resides at Casa de las Campanas retirement community in San Diego, he is survived by sons Larry Harris (Barbara) of Newport, VA, and Jerry Harris (Nancy Eisenberg) of Fountain Hills, AZ, and daughter, Lana Harris Bradley (Michael) of Encinitas, CA, four grandchildren and six great- grandchildren. Frank's ashes will be interred with full military honors at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery, San Diego in October. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to The Fisher House Foundation, 111 Rockville Pike, Suite 420, Rockville, MD, 20850 (or on-line at www.fisher house.org/donate) which provides assistance to military families.