Elwood "Woody" Lawrence Harmon

Elwood Lawrence “Woody” Harmon, USMC MGYSGT retired, devoted and beloved husband and father, and a dear friend of many, went to join the heavenly father with loved ones at his side on 10 December 2019, at the age of 93 in Jacksonville, Florida. He was born to William Norris Harmon and Enna Elizabeth Johnson at Watts hospital in Durham, NC on 13 February 1926.

Woody served his country with pride and distinction after enlisting in the United States Navy in May 1944 and served as a radio operator EC3 aboard a YMS class naval minesweeper during operations for the liberation of the Philippine Islands and later operations throughout the South Pacific until the end of World War 2. After the end of the war, Woody transferred to the United States Marine Corp as a radio operator and served in the Korean War in the Pusan Peninsula theater of operations, then later serving tours in Vietnam in 1968 and 1971 at Danang. Woody retired from active duty in January of 1975 at Camp Lejeune while serving as the Base Radio Station senior non commission officer in charge.

After retiring from the Marines, Woody remained in Jacksonville with his family and worked at Stanadyne and then later as a data communications specialist at the Base Communications Center on Camp Lejeune until his retirement from civil service in 1994 with 44 years of federal service. Woody was a parish member at the Infant of Prague Catholic church and a member of the Semper Fidelis Masonic lodge #680 and in Jacksonville, NC. Woody enjoyed hunting at both Camp Pendleton and Camp Lejeune, fishing and boating with his family at West Onslow beach whenever he could. He always good for advice, a laugh, a helping hand or just someone to talk to, his presence will be missed by all of us that knew and loved him, one of the last members of a great generation, a husband, father and friend that will forever be in our hearts and fondest memories.

Woody is survived by his wife of 59 years, Sheila Marie Sims, formerly of Lenoir, NC; brother Reid M. Harmon of Jacksonville, FL; eldest son Michael Patrick and his wife Vannette Renee Johnson, along with their daughter Meaghan Elizabeth Rogers and son Geoffrey Aaron of Fletcher, NC; eldest daughter Michele Denise and her husband Michael Wesley Hughes of Cathedral City, CA, and their daughters Lauren Alicia and her husband James Roy Fox IV and their son Atticus Wesley Fox, and Rachel Jeanette of Savannah, GA and Anna Christine of Los Angeles, CA; middle son Thomas Christopher and Victoria Chanel Bryant and their son Joseph Vincent and daughter Jennifer Renee of Saint John’s, FL; youngest son Robert Reid and his wife Terri Harmon of Raleigh, NC and youngest daughter Christina Marie Harmon Dozier and her daughter Alexandra Paige and son Gavin Patrick of Wilmington, NC.

Woody was preceded in death by his parents and brothers George, William Jr. and David, and sister Frances Harmon Parrish.

Services are planned for Monday, December 16th at 10:00 am for the family, 11:00 am for the public and will be held at Saint Joseph’s Catholic Church, 4124 Loreto Road, Jacksonville, FL 32223.

In lieu of flowers, please send a donation to the Oxford Boys Home of Oxford, NC or the Disabled American Veterans Chapter 16, Jacksonville, NC or to the USO of Jacksonville, NC.