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HARRISON

YADKINVILLE — The Rev. Owen A. “Joe” Harrison, 87, died Sunday, Nov. 18, 2012, at Central Continuing Care nursing facility in Mount Airy. He was born July 7, 1925, in Lenoir to the late Blaine Harrison and Ida Mae Chester. In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by his wife of 64 years, Bonnie Dover Harrison; brother, Johnny Harrison; and brother-in-law, G.S. Harris. He enlisted in the U.S. Army and served in Normandy, Northern France, Central Europe, Ardennes and the Rineland during WWII. He was part of the D-Day Invasion of Normandy, and came ashore on Utah Beach with the 238th Combat Engineer Battalion on June 6 and 7, 1944. The 238th participated in all campaigns of the U.S. 1st Army, ultimately marching victoriously into Germany. He graduated from Fruitland Baptist Bible Institute in Hendersonville. He pastored Sugar Grove Baptist Church, Sugar Grove, Va., High Point Baptist Church, Lodi, Va., Cleveland Heights Baptist, Gastonia, Soul’s Harbor Tabernacle, Gastonia, West Yadkin Assembly of God, Hamptonville and Calvary Assembly of God, Mount Airy. He founded the Rural Retreat Baptist Church, Rural Retreat, Va. He also served as chaplain to the homeless at the Lighthouse Mission in Winston-Salem. He is survived by two sons, Danny Harrison and wife Janie of Galax, Va., and Tony Harrison and wife Diane of Fancy Gap, Va.; two daughters, Teena Harrison of Las Vegas, Nev., and Annette Smith and husband Mark of Walnut Cove; grandchildren, Daniel Harrison, Susan Kitzrow, John Harrison, David Harrison, Jeremy Tallent, Heather Tallent, Jacob Smith and Rebekah Smith; and 14 great-grandchildren. He is also survived by two sisters, Mavis Woods of Saw Mills and Joyce Harris of Granite Falls. His funeral service will be held 2 p.m. Friday, Nov. 23, 2012, at Gentry Family Chapel in Yadkinville by Daniel Harrison. Burial will follow at Union Grove Baptist Cemetery with full Military Honors by the Yadkin VFW Post 10346. The family will receive friends from 1 to 2 p.m. Friday prior to the service at Gentry Family Funeral Service in Yadkinville. Sincere thanks to Shirley Horton, and the staff of Central Continuing Care for their dedication to and care of our dad. A special thanks to Mountain Valley Hospice for assisting our family during this time. Gentry Family Funeral Service in Yadkinville is serving the Harrison family. Online condolences can be made at www.gentryfuneralservice.com.