Charles Harris

Tribune, Kansas Charles William Harris, age 84, passed away on Thursday, September 19, 2013 at Greeley County Health Center Long Term Care in Tribune, Kansas. Charles was born September 30, 1928 at Wellington, Kansas, the son of Robert William (R.W.) & Goldia M. Zimmerman Harris, joining his older sister Wilma in the family. In 1930 the family left Sumner County for their new farming venture in Greeley County, Kansas. During the tough period of the 30's that soon followed their arrival at their new farm, Goldia and the children briefly relocated back with family in South Haven, Kansas until the rains came and the drought was broken. Charles attended Horace Grade School and graduated from Greeley County High School in 1946. The following December, Charles married his high school sweetheart, Verna Lou Kinlund in her parents home in Tribune, Kansas. Charles and his father formed the farming partnership of RW Harris and Son, raising wheat on their farm southwest of Tribune and cattle on the ranch in northwestern Greeley County. He was a lifelong farmer and cattleman and participated in the growth of the feedlot industry in western Kansas, operating a backgrounding lot and finishing cattle in many commercial lots. He was truly a farmer and cowboy. Charles had been a member of the Kansas Livestock Assn. since 1951, being active in the leadership of the county organization, and faithfully participating in the annual convention. His other memberships include the Masonic Lodge, United Methodist Church, Kansas Flying Farmers, Civil Air Patrol and Experimental Aircraft Assn. He was a former Southwest Kansas Federal Land Bank Director, past Greeley County Board of Education member and served on the Greeley County Health Services Board of Directors for over 20 years. Charles enjoyed boating and water skiing with his family and friends. In more recent years, he and Verna enjoyed taking their grandchildren boating and fishing and attending KC Royals games and Worlds of Fun. He enjoyed golfing with his friends and was an avid supporter of the Prairie Ridge Golf Course. He and Verna enjoyed fun times with friends at dances and bridge clubs and bus tours they took with other Tribune couples to the eastern United States and Nova Scotia and their annual Rv'ing trips to Texas. Charles's lifelong passion was flying. He first soloed in 1947 at Scott County Airport and shortly thereafter purchased his first plane, an Ercoupe. Throughout his flying years he owned numerous airplanes and received much pleasure from taking locals on joy rides and trips where flying just made the best sense. He fabricated and assembled two aircraft from kit in his farm shop. In 1975, Charles earned his helicopter certification and enjoyed flying helicopters during the pinnacle of his flying years. He loved checking fields and pasture cattle from the air and always felt doing so was the superior method. He always managed to incorporate flying, farming and ranching. His presence was a formative influence on his children and grandchildren. Charles surviving family includes His wife of 66 years- Verna L. Harris- Tribune, Kansas Two children and their spouses- Clark & Barbara Harris- Tribune, Kansas Jill & Dave Pollock- Hays, Kansas Three grandchildren and their spouses Clinton & Joanna Harris- Annandale, Virginia Evan Scott- & Julie-Ann Pollock- Wilmington, North Carolina Rachel Pollock- Gaithersburg, Maryland And one great grandchild- Anthony Scott Pollock- Wilmington, North Carolina His parents, a son, Greg William Harris, a sister, Wilma Brunswig, a grandchild, Phillip Pollock, four brothers in law Lyle Griffin, Bart Brunswig, Arlyss Kinlund, and Russell Engle, two sisters in law, Becky Kinlund and Vivian Engle and grand nieces Nina (Engle) Brooks and Camile Kinlund precede him in death. Funeral Services will be held at 2:00 pm (MDT) Wednesday, September 25, 2013 at the United Methodist Church in Tribune, Kansas with the Reverend Mark Anderson and Tom Davis officiating. Burial will be in Greeley County Cemetery in Tribune, Kansas. Friends may call from noon until 8:00 pm Monday and from 10:00 am until 8:00 pm Tuesday at Price & Sons Funeral Home in Tribune, Kansas. Memorials may be given to Greeley County Health Services in care of the funeral home.