Walter Harrison

Walter Harrison died on Friday, September 19, 2008 at Good Samaritan Health Care Center in Las Cruces, New Mexico. At his request, cremation has taken place and no services are planned at this time. He was born on August 24,1914 in Bridgeport, CT to John Harrison and Alice (Proctor) Harrison, English immigrants to the U.S. He completed the 8th grade in Bridgeport and started working at the A&P Grocery, eventually attaining the position of Assistant Manager. During World War II, having been classified 4-F due to a heart murmur, he worked at Remington Arms in Bridgeport making bullets for the Army and losing the sight in one eye due to an ammunitions accident. Walter married Dorothy Ruth Brown on August 17, 1943, after a courtship that began with a blind date. They resided in Stratford, CT and raised their three children. Upon retiring from the Milford Rivet and Machine Company in 1976, Walter and Dorothy moved to Ft. Lauderdale, Fl, where they lived for 30 years before moving to Las Cruces in June 2006. Walter was preceded in death by his parents and all his siblings: Lillian, Harry (in infancy), John, and Leonard. He is survived by his loving wife of 65 years, Dorothy, and his three children: Robin (Mac) Sneddon, presently of Las Cruces, NM; Richard (Cindy) of Stratford, CT; and David (Kathy) of Ridgefield, CT. Also, eight grandchildren: Mark (Meg) Sneddon of CA, and Glen (Emma) Sneddon of AZ; Richard, Gina (Ross Colborne), and Michael Harrison of CT; and Matthew, Kelly, and Stacy Harrison of CT. Also three great-grandchildren: Gage Sneddon; and Dillon and Samantha Colborne. Walter will be fondly remembered by those who knew and love him as a man devoted to the care and well being of this mother (after his father's death) and his wife and family, a man fiercely independent and self-sufficient with a strong work ethic, a man who could build and fix anything. He was a plumber, electrician, mechanic, builder, and gardener, as well as the cook's helper and dishwasher. He also loved being outdoors with his family, from picnics and hikes at CT state parks to lazy weekend days at the lake and local beaches. PDF Printable Version