Willard J. Harris

Mr. Willard J. Harris, 78, of Division Street, Salamanca, New York died Saturday (December 15, 2012) at the Olean General Hospital.

Born September 26, 1934 in Salamanca, New York, he was the son of the late Burt and Luella John Harris. He was married in November 1966 to the former Carolyn Redeye, who survives.

Mr. Harris was a veteran of the United States Army serving as a Radar Technichen at Ft. Meade. He was awarded the National Defense Service Medal and the Good Conduct Medal.

He was employed as Highway Maintenance II for twenty years at the New York State Department of Transportation prior to his retirement.

Mr. Harris was an enrolled member of the Seneca Nation of Indians, Wolf clan, Jimersontown Presbyterian Church, CSEA union, and a former member of the F&AM lodge #236. He enjoyed the outdoors, gardening, fishing, baseball, reading, and travelling the East Coast.

Surviving besides his wife are: two sons, Jonathan Harris, New Haven, CT, Jerald Harris, Salamanca, NY; two grandchildren, Joel Harris, Germantown, TN, Jonathan Harris II, Olean, NY; one brother, Alan (Sharon) Harris, Salamanca, NY; several nieces and nephews.

Friends may call at the O'Rourke & O'Rourke Inc. Funeral Home, 25 River Street, Salamanca, New York on Tuesday from 4-7 p.m., where funeral services will be held on Wednesday at 10:00 a.m., with the Rev Marvin Abrams, pastor of the Jimersontown Presbyterian Church officiating.

Burial will be in Cornplanter Cemetery at the convenience of the family.

Full Military Honors will be performed by members of the American Legion Hughes-Skiba Post # 535, and the Veterans of Foreign Wars, John Ahrens Post # 5296.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials to the Diabetes Unit, at the Lionel John Health Care Center in Jimersontown, NY.

E-condolences can be sent to john@orourke-orourke.com, or posted to facebook.com/onofh.