Dr. Eugene Harrison
Dr. Eugene Harrison, 93, passed away October 25, 2017 at his home following a brief illness. He was born February 10, 1924 in Palestine, Texas to Carroll and Minnie (Haney) Harrison. He served his country as a Flight Officer in the Army Air Corps during World War II, where he was a bombardier in the European theater. He was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Crockett.
Dr. Harrison graduated from Glover High School in the Glover Community, and earned bachelors and master’s degrees in mechanical engineering from Texas A&M University. After returning from World War II, he married Melba Eloise Welch Harrison with whom he shared four children and 57 years of marriage. He earned a PhD in mechanical engineering from Michigan State University, where he launched his teaching career. Dr. Harrison was later a faculty member at Georgia Institute of Technology, and appointed to the Draper Professorship at Clemson University, from which he retired in 1978. He returned to Crockett that year to join his family’s business, Stowe Lumber Company, which he enjoyed managing and leading until his death.
In addition to his teaching career, Dr. Harrison also worked for Chance Vought in Irving, Texas, an aerospace technology company where his work contributed to the early U.S. space program. While at Clemson, he developed several patented innovations for automatic controls. Dr. Harrison was a passionate naturalist and gentleman rancher who loved tending his gardens and orchards and raising livestock. He and his wife Melba enjoyed traveling the country by car and motor home, visiting numerous National Parks. Dr. Harrison was active in the Crockett Lions Club, a 32nd Degree Mason of The Scottish Rite and a Shriner.
Dr. Harrison is survived by his children, Charlotte Kimble of Crockett, Drexel (Brenda) Harrison of Leander, Texas, and Brenda (Steven) Welter of Central, South Carolina; grandchildren, Katharine (Michael) Baker, Karen (James Duddey) Atkinson, Kimberly (Craig) Van Pelt, Stephanie (Timothy) Murphy, Joshua Welter, David (Ashley) Welter, and Christopher Harrison; great-grandchildren, Sarah Baker, Jack Baker, Eloise Van Pelt, Daphne Van Pelt, Megan Murphy, and Brooke Murphy. He is preceded in death by his wife, Melba, daughter, Deborah Harrison, and brother, Douglas Harrison.
Funeral services for Eugene Harrison were held Saturday October 28, 2017 at 2 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church. The family received friends Friday evening at Callaway-Allee Funeral Home from 5 p.m.- 7 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Lions Club Camp for Children, P. O. Box 290247, Kerrville, TX 78029, www.lionscamp.com, United Methodist Church Memorial Fund, or a charity of choice.
