Earl Harris

Earl Dean Harris, 82, passed away Tuesday morning, February 9, 2016, surrounded by his family. Earl was born and raised in the small mountain town of Glade Valley, North Carolina in the Alleghany Mountains. It was there that he met the love of his life, and wife of 65 years, Carol Pruitt Harris. Following graduation from Sparta High School, Earl and his wife, Carol moved to Burlington, North Carolina in 1951 where he began work for Western Electric. He graduated from Elon College in 1957 with a B.A. in Physics. Carol and Earl raised three children together in Burlington until they moved to Stone Mountain, GA in 1975. He retired from Bell Laboratories in 1991. After his retirement, they returned to Burlington, NC in 1997 and have remained there since. His hobbies included Civil War reenacting and Civil War relic collecting. During his reenactment years, he was an officer in the Sixth Regiment, N. C. State Troops. He also enjoyed furniture making and woodworking. He was an extremely talented craftsman that taught both his son and son-in law the craft along side him. He was an avid blue bird enthusiast. He enjoyed gardening and had a special love of irises and camellias. He was a devoted member of Grove Park Baptist Church and Burlington Christian Church. He was actively involved in Sunday School at both churches and enjoyed the activities he participated in as a member of the senior adult community. He is remembered most for his integrity, sincerity, and immense love for his family. Family will also remember him for his love of history, his sweet tooth, and his love of photography. He is preceded in death by his parents, Flake Gilmore and Ennice Maines Harris and his sister, Barbara Harris Jeffries of Burlington, NC. He is survived by his wife, Carol, and the children, grandchildren, and great-children that he loved so dearly - Dean (Teresa) Harris of Burlington, Robin (Robert) Harbuck of Ormond Beach, FL, Lee (Julie) Harris of Bainbridge, GA; 8 grandchildren, Hayden (Amanda), Evan (Estefania), Bethany (Steven), John (Christina), Hannah, Kyle, Chase, Caleb; and 2 great-grandchildren, Lydia and Abbie. The family will receive visitors immediately prior to the funeral at 9:30 AM on Thursday, February 11th in the Grove Park Baptist Church Sanctuary. The funeral service will be held at Grove Park Baptist Church immediately following the visitation on Thursday at 11 AM. A private burial was held at Glade Valley Presbyterian Church Cemetery in Glade Valley, NC. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to Hospice and Palliative Care of Alamance-Caswell, 914 Chapel Hill Road, Burlington, NC 27215. You may sign the online register book at www.lowefuneralhome.com