Warren O. Harris Sr., 87, longtime Wrightstown leader

Warren O. Harris Sr., 87, a longtime Wrightstown, Burlington County, resident and activist, died Sunday, June 20, at Virtua Memorial Hospital in Mount Holly. He had recently lived at the Masonic Home in Burlington.

Whether serving as a local volunteer firefighter or on the New Hanover Township Board of Education, Mr. Harris "was always there for Wrightstown," said his son Warren.

The town will name its planned municipal building, which also will house a fire station and senior citizens center, in Mr. Harris' honor, Mayor Tom Harper said.

He was a "World War II vet, a 25-year postmaster, and he served on just about every board," Harper said. "If you knew him, you knew why."

Mr. Harris was born and raised in Vincentown and graduated from Pemberton High School in 1941. During World War II, he served in the Army in the South Pacific.

Once back in Burlington County, Mr. Harris worked as a delivery boy for a local dairy store. It was there that he reconnected with high school classmate Marybelle Davis. The couple married in 1948 and moved to Wrightstown.

Mr. Harris owned a hardware store and two gas stations during the 1950s and '60s. In 1969 he took an offer to be Wrightstown's postmaster, a job he held for 25 years, his family said.

Mr. Harris was a longtime active member of the Wrightstown Volunteer Fire Company and served as its chief for five years. "That was his first love," his wife said.

To ensure that his children had the best education possible, Mr. Harris joined the school board and served for many years, including 11 as president.

He also served on the municipal utilities association and on the planning and zoning board.

Politicians and other residents often went to him for advice, the mayor said. He described Mr. Harris as a quiet man with a steady demeanor.

In addition to his wife and son Warren, Mr. Harris is survived by a son, Richard; a daughter, JoAnn Smith; a stepson, Allen Miller; eight grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.

A funeral will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday, June 25, at Tilghman Funeral Home, 52 Main St., New Egypt. Interment will be in Upper Springfield Cemetery.