Victor was born on the 20th of December 1919 in Billings, Oklahoma. Retired Marine, beloved husband and father, he spent his final years in Sugar Land, TX.
Victor is preceded in death by his parents, Victor and Boka Harris; sister, Dawn Lively; brother, Robert H. Harris; first wife, Cecelia Elko Harris; and grandson, David Howard.
Victor is survived by his wife, Lelia Harding Harris; his children, Victor Harris, Dianne Millican, Tanya Harris, Donald Reynolds, Nancy Howard and Chelsea Harris Cook; grandchildren, Glenn Coleman, Scott Coleman, Ryan Howard, Andrew Howard, Bryson Harris, Andrea Cook and Curtis Cook; in addition, 15 great-grandchildren and 14 great-great grandchildren.
Vic spent his early years growing up in Henryetta, Oklahoma surrounded by many relatives. After graduation from Henryetta High School in 1938, he attended Tulsa Business School before joining the Marines in 1939. During World War II he served in the Pacific Theater where he was stationed several places including Pearl Harbor and Guadalcanal. At the end of WWII, Vic was transferred to Indian Head, Maryland where he met Cecelia Elko, a Navy WAVE, stationed at the same base. They were married in 1945 and later moved to Pocatello, Idaho where his son Victor (VW) was born. Vic's fondest memories during the service came while stationed in Yokosuka, Japan (1948-1951) which was was where his daughter Tanya was born in 1950. He retired from active service as a Master Sergeant in 1959 to the Beaumont/ Orange Texas area where his youngest daughter, Chelsea, was born in 1960.
Following his completion of active service with the Marines, Vic managed a bowling alley and held various sales positions before moving to Houston in 1966. There he joined the Peabody Dore Company where he spent the next 20 years before retiring while holding the position of Export Manager.
Vic's other passions in life included umpiring baseball, fishing, golf, ministry and swapping stories with anyone who had the time. He graduated 1st in class from the Bill McGowan School of Professional Umpiring in Daytona Beach, Florida; the Dale Carnegie program and auctioneering school where he earned the honorary auctioneer title of Colonel. He umpired baseball for many years at the high school, college and semi-pro level which, combined with his adventures in the military, was the source of many of his well-known stories. In addition, he was also a volunteer firefighter and active in Toastmasters for several years.
While growing up in Oklahoma, he was exposed to Christianity at the Henryetta Church of Christ where his father was an Elder. Through most of his early adult years, Vic was not active in the church, however this changed in 1968 when he re-committed his life to Jesus Christ and was a dedicated follower for the rest of his days. He was involved in a lay witness ministry and served in many roles, including Elder, within Westside Christian Church in Bellaire, Texas for many years. He continued serving the Lord faithfully at the Holly Lake Church of Christ for many years while retired in East Texas.
Following a brief illness, his wife Cecelia passed away the 20th of August 1973 from a cerebral hematoma. In 1975, Victor and Lelia Mae Harding Reynolds were married bringing Dianne, Don and Nancy into the extended family. Vic and Lelia remained in Houston until they formally retired to Holly Lake Ranch in the Tyler/Big Sandy area of East Texas in 1990. Those years at Holly Lake Ranch were very rich ones in which they spent time serving in the local church, playing golf and enjoying their grandkids. They remained there until health issues caused them to move back to the southwest Houston area in 2005.
Gifted with a great sense of humor, Vic told jokes to the very end. He never wanted to leave a meeting without a joke because he said he wanted to always leave people laughing.
Friends are cordially invited to a visitation with the family from seven until nine o’clock in the evening on Tuesday the 15th of February in the Drawing Room of Geo. H Lewis & Sons, 1010 Bering Drive in Houston.
A memorial service is to be conducted at three o’clock in the afternoon on Wednesday, the 16th of February, in the Jasek Chapel of Geo. H. Lewis and Sons where the Rev. Harold Eye is to officiate. Prior to the service, the family will have gathered for a private interment at Houston National Cemetery in Houston.
For those desiring, contributions in Vic’s memory may be directed to Camp Deer Run, 1227 County Road 4590, Winnsboro, TX, 75494-4967 or directly through their web site at www.campdeerrun.com.
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