Carl E. Harshner Jr., age 84, of Edison, went to be with the Lord on Saturday afternoon, January 1, 2011, at the Morrow County Hospital with his family by his side following an extended illness.
On June 23, 1926, Carl was born in Nyack, New York, the son of the late Carl Sr. and Frances (Ogden) Harshner. He grew up a “river rat,” spending his time on the Hudson River, and he attended Nyack High School.
During his senior year at high school, Carl left school to join the U.S. Navy to help his fellow countrymen in the fight of World War II. He served off the shores of the South Pacific driving barges and helping to operate the large crane on board.
Upon his honorable discharge from the Navy, Carl returned home to New York, where he worked as a security guard until he found a job as a printer press operator making boxes at Gairs. This company “sold him down the river three times” with the last factory, known as Federal Paperboard, closing its doors in 1984. While in New York, he had been a member of the Spark Hill American Legion.
With the stars aligning, Carl met a young lady, Ruth Evelyn Cox, of Edison, while she was visiting New York on vacation with her family. Knowing it was true love, Carl proposed shortly after meeting Ruth, and they were married a month and a half later on September 18, 1954. Together they lovingly raised four children, and shared fifty six wonderful years of marriage.
When the factory closed in New York, Carl and his family moved to Ruth’s hometown of Edison. He quickly found work at Tappan Print in Mansfield, because they had been searching for a printer press operator. He worked there for five years, until his retirement in 1991.
Shortly after his retirement, Carl found a new hobby and passion of tinkering with computers. He and Ruth loved making all kinds of personal gifts for their family, friends and organizations they believed in. They would make things such as calendars and cards, doing the entire process themselves from their own home.
In his younger days, Carl loved to bowl and most especially with his wife, Ruth. They enjoyed bowling in many leagues winning many little trophies and most importantly having plenty of fun.
With a love for the open road, Carl and Ruth traveled as often as they could, whether it was visiting Ruth’s family twice a year in Ohio or just seeing what they could see. They had especially enjoyed trips to Vermont, Yellowstone National Park, the Florida Keys, and seeing the entire coast line along Route 1.
Even though he enjoyed bowling, Carl did not like other sports. Instead, he kindly tolerated Ruth’s love of sports, and he often loved a good nap on Sunday when she was watching her sports. Though he did actually enjoy watching his grandchildren play sports.
Always ornery, Carl always “had something witty to say” to try and “get someone going.” He would say the darndest things just to get a rise out of his family and friends. Being one of the few men members of T.O.P.S. in Mount Gilead, he often kept the ladies laughing with his off the wall sense of humor, which made them love him.
With his fun loving personality, it was easy for everyone to like him and he could talk with most anyone. But for those selected few he became true friends with, they would be the dearest of friends for life.
In 2009, Carl was proud to join and become a member of the Edison United Methodist Church.
Carl will be dearly missed by his wife, Ruth Harshner of Edison; four children: Christine (Paul) Smith of Monroe, New York, and their children: Paul (Karla) Smith, Danny Smith, Jessica (Stephen) Maffia, and Sean Smith; Evelyn (Eliot) Horowitz of Hackettstown, New Jersey, and their children: Steven, Jennifer and Laura Horowitz; Michael D. Harshner Sr. (Rtd. Navy) of St. Mary’s, Georgia, and his children: Jesse Harshner and Michael D. Harshner Jr.; and Samantha (Steve) McFarland of Mount Gilead, and their children: Justin and Christopher Kempton, and Andrew McFarland; one great-granddaughter, Alana Smith; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Including his parents, Carl was preceded in death by his a half brother, Robert Hartwick; and three half sisters: Harriett Bouchard, Isabelle Bayard, and Madelyn Piccillo.
The Harshner family will greet friends from 4 – 7 p.m. on Tuesday, January 4, 2011, at the Snyder Funeral Home, 76 S. Main St., Mount Gilead. Services honoring his life will also be held there on Wednesday at 11:00 a.m. with Pastor Don Lockwood officiating. Friends are again welcome to visit for an hour prior to his services. Burial with military honors provided by the V.F.W. Post 5084 and AmVets Post 87 will follow in Rivercliff Cemetery in Mount Gilead.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Edison United Methodist Church, and they may be sent to the care of the funeral home.
For those wishing to express their condolences to Carl’s family, you may do so by visiting www.snyderfuneralhomes.com.
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