David HARKINS

1934 - 2017

HARKINS, David Clifton "Dave" David Clifton "Dave" Harkins, of Austin, TX, formerly of Charleston, WV, and Victoria, TX, joined his Lord on June 25, 2017, after a long illness. Dave was born on Jan. 22, 1934, in Charleston. He was the son of the late Samuel Granville Harkins, Sr. and Louise Edens, formerly of Charleston. Also preceding Dave in death were his beloved wife of nearly 55 years, Betty Elaine Dolin Harkins, and his sister, Charlotte V. Harkins Parsons. Dave is survived by his daughter, Jane E. Harkins, and her husband, Doug Cochran, of Flat Top, WV; his son, John G. Harkins, and his wife, Arden Harkins, of Austin, TX; by his three grandchildren, Madison Whitney Harkins, Mallory Jane Harkins, and MacLean David Harkins, also of Austin; by his brother, Samuel G. Harkins, Jr., and his wife, Margie, of Fernandina Beach, FL; and his sister, Loretta M. Harkins Rodgers, of Bluffton, SC. Dave graduated from Stonewall Jackson High School in 1951 and began teaching drafting there the following year. He served in the U.S. Army in Stuttgart, Germany, from 1955 to 1959. Returning from his military service, he attended West Virginia University, graduating in 1963 with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. Thereafter, he joined Union Carbide as a Mechanical Engineer. In his 35-year career with Union Carbide, he worked most often in South Charleston, WV (the Tech Center, Bldg. 2000) and at Institute, WV, but transfers lead Dave and his family to Victoria, TX (he worked at the Seadrift plant from 1973-1975) and to Antwerp, Belgium (1975-1977). Returning stateside to Charleston, WV, Dave contracted the building of the family's dream home on Weberwood Drive. During this time, Dave and Betty were active members of Charleston's Baptist Temple, where they made life-long friendships. Dave's last transfer with Union Carbide occurred during construction of their home, and for two years, he commuted to New Jersey, New York City, and Virginia. From this project, however, he realized one of his greatest professional accomplishments: managing the construction and launching of the S.S. Chemical Pioneer, a compartmentalized tanker ship capable of transporting multiple chemicals at the same time. After Dave retired in 1998, Dave and Betty returned to Victoria, TX, where they were members of the First Presbyterian Church and were blessed with many dear friends. After Betty's death in 2010, Dave moved to Austin in 2013 to be closer to his family. Dave was an avid craftsman, and he enjoyed working in both metal fabrication and with wood. He embraced challenging projects, approaching each with an engineer's skill and tenacity and demanding precision in the process and the end product. He constructed a roll-top desk, several grandfather clocks, and an astounding variety of furniture, and his family takes great pride in these heirlooms. He also appreciated his deep friendships, most notably with Paul Peterson, Friench Tarkington, and Derek Cox, all of Victoria, TX. A memorial celebration will be planned by the family in the future. In lieu of flowers, Dave wanted any expressions of sympathy to be made in the form of donations to Hospice or to a charity of one's choice.