Kenneth A. Harris, 57, of Columbia City, went to be with the Lord on Sunday, June 14, 2015, at the Visiting Nurse and Hospice Home.

Survivors include his loving wife of 32 years: Rhonda Harris; sons: Phil (Tiffany) Harris, Columbia City; and Todd (Ashley) Harris, Huntington; parents: Keith and Geneva Harris, Oxford, Miss.; brother: David Harris, Oxford, Miss.; sisters: Marcia Hawkins, Water Valley, Miss.; and Linda Boyd, Oxford, Miss; six grandchildren: Hailey; Logan; Braylyn; Lily; Luke; and Morgan. He was preceded in death by his sister: Sharon Harris; sister-in-law: Patti Harris; and brother-in-law: Jim Hawkins.

There were endless things to love and admire about Ken Harris. Foremost were Ken’s faith and the way in which he relied on his Lord throughout life’s obstacles, and praising Him through the many blessings that came his way. Ken inspired all with his positive attitude, perseverance, and his quick wit which brought smiles to the faces of many. A beloved man in many respects, Ken leaves behind a legacy of enduring faith built on the promises of God. Although he is deeply missed, Ken now rests, safe and secure, in the arms of his Lord.

A time of innovation, the year 1957 found the U.S. economy booming. The need for consumer goods grew as manufacturing attempted to keep up with demand. It was the peak of the “baby boomer” era, and a time when families prayed, played, and sat at the dinner table together. American Bandstand made its debut while Elvis Presley recorded numerous hits, and the introduction of the Frisbee and Tonka Trucks became the delight of children everywhere. Yet for Keith E. and Geneva A. (Rickert) Harris, nothing was more exciting than the blessed birth of their son, Kenneth A. Harris on Nov. 30, 1957.

One of five children, Ken was born in Huntington, and was raised on his family’s farm about three miles east of the little town of Bippus. As a boy, and along with his siblings, Dave, Sharon, Marcia, and Linda, Ken had the responsibility of typical farm chores living on a livestock farm brings. In his free time he loved fishing and swimming at several of his favorite places and at Long Lake. Living on the farm provided him with endless adventures and fun-filled days during his youth. He especially loved the Fourth of July as it meant spending time with his cousins and making the family’s homemade ice cream. This tradition lived on even as Ken became a father and grandfather. He continued to share these fun times with his own family, making homemade ice cream and having family fish fries just as his family did when he was a youngster.

Having attended the local schools, Ken was also raised in a family of faith. His family attended Bethesda United Methodist Church which taught Ken many cores values of his faith. During his youth, Ken also enjoyed playing baseball and did so until a game during his senior year when he slid into home plate and fractured his ankle. This incident included surgery to repair his ankle with several screws and a plate. It was during this time when his father was also in cast. Ken went on to graduate from Huntington North High School with the Class of 1976, and right out of high school, he went to work full time at the Huntington Farm Bureau Co-Op.

On a windy and chilly April 3, 1982, Ken’s world was forever changed. While having a party at his home and through a blind date, Rhonda Fairchild was invited to attend through her sister’s co-worker. It was love at first sight for Ken and Rhonda as the feeling was mutual. Rhonda quickly noticed Ken’s rosy cheeks, beautiful green eyes, and his wonderful smile. Deeply in love, they soon decided to spend the rest of their lives together and on Dec. 4 of 1982, they were happily married at the Dunfee Missionary Church.

Ken lived on his family’s farm for 27 years before he and Rhonda moved into Huntington in the mid 1980s. Before long they began a family of their own with the birth of their two sons, Phillip and Todd whom Ken loved dearly. They enjoyed many vacations together as a family including trips to Myrtle Beach, North Carolina, Mexico and Florida, including Disney World. They never traveled by air which gave them the opportunity to see the sights along the way.

A wonderful father, Ken enjoyed fishing with his sons and playing pinball. They loved having midnight movie marathons together, even dubbing it the “Harris All Night Theater”. Among the many movies they watched, the 11 hour, Three Stooges Marathon was one of their best memories. Even though Ken loved his children and put on the best fish fries, his “Crockpot Surprise” was something his boys could never quite digest. They’d do anything to get out of having another one of Ken’s “Crockpot Surprise” lunches and would even beg their mother to cook something different for them!

Along with loving his children, Ken simply loved children, in general. He adored his many nieces and nephews, and at Christmastime it wasn’t unusual for Ken to come up missing when Santa came to visit Phil, Todd and their cousins. Even when grandchildren came along, Ken could never be found to see “Santa”.

Early on, Ken left the Co-Op to work at Western Wheel for several years. He then worked at Bendix for nine years before retiring from Breyers Ice Cream in 2012. In 2006, Ken and Rhonda moved to the Laud area. He was a skilled woodworker, and liked using a variety of his skills to better his community. He’d buy run down, sometimes even condemned houses and turn them around just for the betterment of the neighborhood it was in. Ken was a wealth of information. He knew the most random things, and if anyone asked him a question, he usually had an answer. Even though he never graduated from college, Ken was pursuing his education in Industrial Maintenance from Ivy Tech. He worked full time, had a family, and worked on his studies until his cancer became more aggressive. He was proud to have stayed the course, and in his last Trig class he earned an A!

As an adult, Ken attended the Good Shepherd United Brethren Church in Huntington. It was there where he helped implement Shepherds Haven Christian School and where he served as principal in 1997. In addition, Ken was a lifetime member of the NRA, and he also enjoyed singing. Everyone who came to know Ken will certainly miss him singing, “Wish You Were Here”.

In all ways, Ken’s warm personality and uncanny sense of humor will be missed. His positive outlook, not only throughout his eight year battle with cancer, but in every aspect of his life, was an inspiration to all. His attitude remained hopeful, and he never complained. One of a kind, Ken will be forever remembered for all that he was, but those who knew and loved him can rest assured that he is surely walking on the shores of heaven, praising his Lord.

Visitation with Ken’s family will be held from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m. Wednesday, June 17, 2015, at DeMoney-Grimes Funeral Home, Columbia City. A private service for Ken will be held.

Memorial gifts may be given in Ken’s memory to Cancer Services of Northeast Indiana or towards the family’s expenses, care of DeMoney-Grimes.