James Millard Harris

James Millard “Jim” Harris, 85, of Newburgh, Indiana passed away on December 7, 2021 at Deaconess Gateway. He was born in German Township, Vanderburgh County, Indiana on June 21st, 1936. He was the fifth of seven children born to Earl R. and Ruth Mae (Brown) Harris. He was preceded in death by this parents, his sister Judy (Harris) Crowe and his brother William “Bill” Harris.

Jim is survived by his wife Diane and their children; Julie (Perry) Lang of Henderson Nevada, Mike Harris of Los Angeles California and Brian (Betsy) Vanderpool of Medina Ohio, their seven grandchildren; Sarah Miller, Jaine Bracey, Erin Grunwald, Elliot Grunwald, Christopher (Lynette) Vanderpool, Katie (Elliot) King, and Benjamin Vanderpool; three great-grandchildren; Emery and Jaida Bracey and Caroline King.Also surviving him are his brothers; Bob Harris of Lamar, Colorado and Jack Harris of Mt Vernon and his sisters; Alice (Al) Muro of Tehachapi, California and Carol (Ron) Roth of Newburgh and too many nieces, nephews and cousins to name.

Jim graduated from Reitz High School in 1954. To help put him through high school he worked as a Printer for George Koch and Sons and for Mooney Copy Service. He served four years in the U.S. Air Force and was stationed at Chateauroux, France for three of those years. When he was not on temporary duty in other countries, he enjoyed spending the weekends in Paris. He was honorably discharged and then moved to Southern California in 1959 to begin a career with North American Aviation/Rockwell International. In 1973 he married Diane Elaine Vanderpool. Jim and Diane were happily married for 48 years.

He earned an Associate of Arts degree from Moorpark College and a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Redlands. Jim was an Engineering Manager in the Energy Systems Group at Rockwell International in Southern California but spent his last 5 years with the company managing a project at the Knolls Atomic Power Laboratory in Upstate New York. He retired from Rockwell International in 1995 and relocated to the Eugene, Oregon area where he raised Black Angus cattle and became an avid University of Oregon basketball and football fan (Go Ducks). In 2010 he and his wife returned to the Evansville area.

Jim loved to travel; he visited 49 of the United States and 27 foreign countries. He loved spending time with his wife and his family and he enjoyed playing golf; especially with the Good Time Golf Group and with his buddies at Fendrich. He was a member of the Green River Kiwanis where he participated in projects to benefit local youth and he recently became a member of the R-Men’s Club. Jim was also an accomplished genealogist.

A graveside service will be 1:00 p.m., Saturday, May 1, 2022 at Tupman Cemetery, 1601 N. Red Bank Rd., Evansville, IN. Military rites graveside performed by Vanderburgh County Retired Veterans Group. A Celebration of Life service will follow Saturday at 4:00 p.m. at Alexander Newburgh Chapel, 5333 State Road 261, Newburgh, IN. Family and friends may visit Saturday from 2:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at the funeral home.

Condolences may be offered at www.AlexanderNewburghChapel.com