Walter Raymond Harris

Walter Raymond Harris was born on the 21 August 1918, to the late Walter R. Harris, Sr. and the late Nell Haviland Harris in Robinson, Illinois. Walter died Tuesday morning, the 4th of September, 2012. He was a World War II Air Force Veteran of twenty-eight years. His military career began in 1940 after graduating from Indiana State University Terre Haute, Indiana. He served eighteen months in the European and Pacific Theaters of Operation. There were many tours of duty in the States as well as a two year tour with the Alaskan Air Command in Anchorage, Alaska in 1949 and a three year tour in 1954 with NATO Headquarters in Naples, Italy. His last tour of duty was with the Second Air Force, stationed at Barksdale Air Force Base, Bossier City, Louisiana, serving as its Combat Intelligence Director. After his retirement from the service in 1968, the family resided in Bossier City, Louisiana, for fourteen years. In August of 1982, the family moved to Abbeville, South Carolina, Julye's hometown. Colonel Harris is survived by his wife of 66 years, the former Julye Carwile, whom he met and married in 1946 while stationed at the then Greenville Army Air Force Base, Greenville, South Carolina. Their four children survive; Lynna Harris of Greenwood, South Carolina, Jeffery Neal Harris and wife Amy of Havertown, Pennsylvania, Brian Raymond Harris and wife Cindy of Bossier City, Louisiana and Allyson Harris Smith of Abbeville, South Carolina. There are eleven grandchildren, eight boys, Blake, Ryan, Colin, Jacob, Chase, Joey, Grant and Chandler- three girls, Rachael, Alexa and Abigail. Seven great-grandchildren, five boys, Tyler, Tristan, Jeremy, Ashton and Jack and two girls, Liby and Macy. One brother of Terre Haute, Indiana, survives, Gene Warren Harris. The family will receive friends from 5:00PM to 6:00PM Thursday, September 6, 2012 at Harris Funeral Home. Funeral services with full military honors will be 6:00PM, Thursday, September 6, 2012 in the Harris Funeral Home Chapel conducted by the Rev. Rodney Schultz of Grace Community Church of Greenwood, South Carolina. The family will be at his home, 605 Chestnut Street in Abbeville. Walters' family expresses their sincerest gratitude and appreciation to the staff and personnel of Richard Campbell Veterans Nursing Home in Anderson, South Carolina. Their dedication, excellent care, love and support for he and his family will be remembered always. We are very grateful for many things but most of all for allowing Walter to be at 'home'A? with them, after he was unable to stay in his home in Abbeville. Burial will be in the Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia at a later date. A message of condolence may be sent to the family by visiting www.harrisfuneral.com HARRIS FUNERAL HOME & CREMATION SERVICES is assisting the Harris family.