Beloved husband, father, and accomplished pilot John Geoffrey Harris completed his final earthly flight on Wednesday, November 22, 2023 after a six year struggle with Alzheimers.
He is preceded in death by his father, John Edward Harris; his mother, Suzanne Dye Harris and his brother, Guy Raymond Harris. He is survived by his wife of 41 years, Saundra Baker Harris and seven children, daughters: Mary Amy Watson (Michael), Jennifer Suzanne Freihofner, Elizabeth Williams (Colin), Kerry Elizabeth Wilson (Beau) and sons: John Geoffrey Harris Jr. (Lisa), Thomas Raymond Harris, and Bryan Roy Hopple (Melissa). He is also survived by his loving sister, Cindy Geary and sister-in-law, Elizabeth Baker Raymond (Harold.)
John is also survived by his grandchildren, of whom he was immensely proud: Steven Watson, Brittany Watson Pollard (Tony), Samantha Nicole Harris, Lauren Anne Harris, Gabriella Trinity Spriddell, Nicholas Anton Freihofner, Alexander John Freihofner, Riley Thomas McGann, Liam Zsolt McGann, Keira Elizabeth McGann, Lena Elizabeth Hopple, Benjamin Roy Hopple and Alia Ruth Hopple. John is also survived by great-grandchildren, Caleb Watson, Rowan Watson and Brooklyn Pollard.
John graduated from Mercersburg Academy and attended The Ohio State University for a short time as a red-shirt freshman quarterback. His true calling in life, however, was in his love of flight. He was licensed and soloed at the age of 16, and later excelled in his class at the Spartansburg College of Aeronautics and Technology in Tulsa Oklahoma.
For several years he owned and operated a small airport in Geneva New York with his own company Harris Flying Service, providing airplane inspections and maintenance, private pilot lessons and commuter service to New York City. During the Vietnam war the Department of Defense engaged him as a civilian pilot special operations out of Seneca Army Depot in Romulus, New York. Later he flew for commercial airlines Alaska Airlines and Capital Airways.
He returned to Columbus Ohio in 1976 to teach at Columbus Technical Institute (now Columbus State Community College) in Airframe and Aircraft Maintenance Technology. He truly enjoyed his time there and made numerous lifetime friends among the faculty and students.
His love of flying, however, couldnt keep him grounded for long and he was pulled back into the skies as his career developed as Pilot and Chief of Maintenance for local corporations including Bell Brothers, Van Dyne Crotty Corporation, Dominion Homes and M/I Homes.
Following his retirement, the Federal Aviation Administration awarded John the coveted Charles Taylor Master Mechanic Award for his over 50 years of contributions in building and maintaining the safest aviation systems in the world.
During retirement John continued his love of the outdoors, especially water activities and boating, charting many nautical adventures with his beloved wife and dogs. He adored his dogs and could bore people for hours with tales of their K9 brilliance. He also enjoyed designing, and creating many feats of household engineering and was well known as the man who could fix or build anything. He had an extraordinary love of life with a personality that never encountered a stranger. He could tell tales for ages of his many adventures and could recall more corny dad jokes than anyone could imagine. He was be missed immensely.
Friends may call at the Moreland Funeral Home, 55 E. Schrock Road, Westerville, Friday 9-11 a.m. followed by a service at 11 a.m.. Interment Blendon Central Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to:
Johnstown Independent Baptist Church
7397 Johnstown-Alexandria Rd
Johnstown, Ohio 43031
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