John R. Harris

John R. “Ron” Harris passed away at his home in Anderson on July 17, 2015, following a long and courageous battle with lung disease. A loyal Anderson native, Ron was born August 30, 1935, the son of John Samuel and Estella Mae Boerner Harris. He graduated from Anderson High School in 1953 and the Anderson Apprentice School in 1957. He began his career at Delco Remy in 1953, working in the mailroom before entering the apprentice program in the engineering department’s blueprint section, followed by an assignment in automotive switch design. In 1977 he was transferred into the engineering switch group as a resident product engineer. He retired in 1990 after 36.6 years of service. He later worked for Rapid Design Services for seven years. For 24 years, he worked with his father in his income tax preparation business. He is survived by his wife of 28 years, Ruth Ann, and was a loving, dependable, helpful, and encouraging father, grandfather, and friend to their blended family. Children: John Bradley (Barbara) Harris, Anderson; Susan (Andrew) Johnson, Bedford; Curt (Rose) Harris, Noblesville; Brenda (Randall) Eick, Noblesville; Jane (Colin) Casey, Fort Wayne; and Todd (Kimberlee) Caston, Indianapolis. Grandchildren: John Michael (Libby) Harris, Jacob Harris, Bethany (Evan) Meyer, Christopher Johnson, Patrick (Emma) Casey, Matthew (Jessi) Harris, Jonathan (Maggie) Casey, Andrew Casey, Kathryn Caston, Abigail Caston, Samuel Eick, Joshua Eick, and Rebekah Caston. Great Grandchildren: Helen Meyer and John Ronald Meyer. He is also survived by three step-grandchildren, Heather (Brad) McClain, Roger Carlisle, and Joanne (Tony) Grossi; five step-great-grandchildren, Preston Fox, Karsen McClain, Kennedi McClain, Brittnay Mormontoy, Kristin Carlisle, and Colton Carlisle; one step-great-great-grandchild, Chloe Mormontoy; brother-in-law David (Ingrid) Beery; sisters-in-law Dorene (Larry) Rodocker; and Susan (Robert) Stewart. Ron attended Southdale Church of the Nazarene in Anderson and South Side Christian Church, Sarasota, Florida. In recent years he served as President of the Buckingham Court Condominium Association. Calling hours will be from 5:00 to 8:00 Friday evening, July 24, at the Robert D. Loose Funeral Home, 200 West 53rd Street, Anderson, and one hour before the funeral which be held at 11:00 Saturday morning at Southdale Church of the Nazarene, 530 West 53rd Street, Anderson, officiated by Rev. Brad Buhro. Burial will take place in the Anderson Memorial Park Cemetery, Anderson, IN. Memorial contributions may be made to Southdale Church of the Nazarene or South Side Christian Church. The family wishes to express appreciation to SouthernCare Hospice, and especially to Sandi Duggan, Ron’s compassionate and capable case manager and nurse. Ron wanted to admonish any and all who smoke, who might read his obituary, to please stop, and to those who don’t, to never start. He estimated that he smoked approximately 625,000 cigarettes from 1953 to 1996, undoubtedly the major cause of his ongoing battle with COPD and his deadly lung cancer. “A physical in 1970 indicated I had emphysema, almost assuredly caused by my smoking - according to the doctor - and I did nothing until I quit smoking in 1996, which was then 26 years too late.”

John R. Harris

August 30, 1935 - July 17, 2015