BANGOR – Walter Jason Harris died peacefully Sept. 27, 2010, at the Maine Veterans Home, Bangor. He was born July 23, 1918, in Salem, Ohio, to Walter and Myrtle (Bricker) Harris. His family moved to St. Cloud, Fla., where he attended school, graduating from St. Cloud High School as president of his class in 1936. Walter joined the Navy immediately after high school and began a career from which he retired in 1963 at the rank of lieutenant commander. Walter was first a gunner’s mate on the USS New York and between 1942 and 1948 served as squadron gunnery officer and commanding officer of multiple Motor Torpedo Boat Squadrons in the South Pacific. He later served as commanding officer of the USS Banning, the USS Seer, and as executive officer of the USS Bronson. He also served as instructor at the Naval Officer Candidate School, Newport, R.I., and security officer at Boston Naval Ship Yard. During his Navy career he was awarded the Naval Bronze Star, Good Conduct Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal and a Korean Service Medal. After retirement he worked as a procurement agent for General Dynamics Shipyard, Quincy, Mass. Walter especially enjoyed fishing and sailing with his family. In his retirement he was an active and distinguished member of the Coast Guard Auxiliary in Massachusetts and Maine qualifying as coxswain and serving as flotilla commander 601 and member training staff officer for Division 12. Walter is survived by his wife of nearly 69 years, Dorothy D. Harris of Bangor; his son, Walter J. Harris Jr. and his wife, Lianne, of Orono; as well as his daughter, Betty Jean Miller and her husband, Joseph, of Durham, N.H. He will be missed by his grandchildren, Alise Trees and her partner, Ly Burns, Jason Harris and his wife, Lori Frank, Coralia Miller, and Gregory Miller and his wife, Gaylen; and by his great-grandson, Riley Miller. A celebration of his life will be held at a future date. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in his memory to Maine Veterans Home, Bangor-Unit B, 44 Hogan Road, Bangor, ME 04401.
WALTER JASON HARRIS
