Ronald W. Harbison
Ronald W. Harbison, 88, of Saxonburg passed away Saturday at the VA Butler Healthcare Hospice surrounded by his family.
Born Sept. 25, 1928, in Jefferson Center, he was the son of William “Pete” G. Harbison and Hazel Seiders Harbison.
Ron started working at Armco Steel in 1944 while still in high school during World War II, retiring in 1989 after 44 years of service.
After graduating from high school in 1946, he enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps, working on airplane ordinance until his discharge in 1947. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy until he re-enlisted in the Marines after the Korean War started. He was assigned to the VMF (N) 513 Flying Nightmares at K-8 Kusan in Korea, where he flew 56 night missions, earning four air medals, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Medal and the Good Conduct Medal.
He was discharged as a staff sergeant in September 1953. He then enlisted in the U.S. Army Reserve in Butler and served as the battalion supply sergeant before enlisting in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve and served inactively until his discharge in 1961.
Ron was a life member of the Saxonburg American Legion Post 693, the Saxonburg VFW Post 7376, the Butler Bantam Detachment of the Marine Corps League and the Wm. H. Miller Lodge 769 F&AM. He recently received a 50-year pin from the American Legion.
In 2009, he was named Butler County Veteran of the Year. He belongs to and was a past elder of the Saxonburg Memorial Presbyterian Church. He was a member of the Saxonburg Volunteer Fire Co. and held several offices, including three years as fire chief. While fire chief, he developed and taught a course in Basic Firefighting at the Butler County Fire School. He was instrumental in establishing a pure air compressor to fill fire fighting air masks. This was installed in the Butler Fire station and available to all county fire companies.
Surviving are two daughters, Carrie Harbison of Saxonburg and Suzanne (Rick) Warheit of Butler; his son, Lance Harbison of Saxonburg; five grandchildren, Brian Hutchison, Erin Hutchison, Lulan Harbison, Sara Harbison and Jacob Harbison; his son-in-law, John (Mary Jo) Hutchison; and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Jean Mahan Harbison, who he married Sept. 20, 1955; one daughter, Leslie Hutchison; and two sisters, Eileen Paulsen and Evelyn Davis.
HARBISON — Friends of Ronald W. Harbison, who died Saturday, March 11, 2017, will be received from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at the Fox Funeral Home, Saxonburg.
Services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday with the Rev. Douglas Dorsey officiating.
Interment will follow at the Butler County Memorial Park. The Marine Corps League will perform honors Tuesday evening at 7 p.m. and the Saxonburg American Legion will conduct military honors following the funeral service.
Memorial donations may be made to Toys for Tots.
For more information, visit www.foxfuneralhomeinc.com.
