Obituary of Roberts Harrington

MARION, VIRGINIA: ROBERTS H. "BOB" HARRINGTON, JR., age 80, died Wednesday, June 9, 2004 in Wellmont Hospice House, Bristol, Tennessee, after a brief illness. The son of the late Dr. Roberts Hale, Sr., and Ruth Hammond Harrington, he was born at Elk Creek, Virginia, on January 12, 1924. He was a 1941 graduate of Marion High School, where he played football and attended Virginia Tech and later East Tennessee State University. A veteran of World War II, he served in the United States Army in North Africa, Sicily and Italy and received the Combat Infantry Badge, Parachute Badge, three Purple Hearts, a Bronze Star, and a Silver Star. After the war, he went on to have a career in industrial engineering with Brunswick Corporation, Radford Arsenal, Thiokol Corp., North Electric, Kingsport Press and Publishers Printing, and he also worked for L. M. Berry. After leaving Marion, Virginia, Bob and his family went on to live in Blacksburg, Virginia, east Texas, Bristol and Kingsport, Tennessee, Louisville and Shepherdsville, Kentucky, and the Washington, DC area before he and June returned to Marion, Virginia, in the early 1990s. Besides being a gifted musician, artist, storyteller and woodworker, Bob was an accomplished bowler and an avid hunter and fisherman. He was made an honorary Kentucky Colonel when he and June lived in Kentucky. In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by a sister-in-law, Anne Preston Harrington. Bob is survived by his wife of almost 57 years and the love of his life, June Pugh Harrington of Marion, Virginia. Two daughters and a son-in-law, Sandra and James Daugherty of Fairfax, Virginia, and Susan Harrington of Atlanta, Georgia. One son and daughter-in-law, Roberts Hale "Dusty" III and Jeannie Harrington of Pine Island, Florida. Six grandchildren, Quincey Harrington and husband Jason Bowen of Knoxville, Tennessee; Robert Daugherty of Chicago, Illinois; James Daugherty II and wife, Becky of Alexandria, Virginia; Joshua White of Cary, North Carolina; Jennifer and Heather Wyatt, both of Florida. One great-grandson, Conor Daugherty of Alexandria, Virginia. One brother, Charles L. Harrington of Marion, Virginia. A sister-in-law, Pearl Bradshaw of Marion, Virginia. A brother-in-law, Joe Pugh and wife, Eddie of Hudson, Florida. He was also a favorite uncle to several of his and June's nieces and nephews. Funeral Services will be held Friday, June 11, 2004 at 8:00 p.m. at Seaver-Brown Chapel with Rev. Alan Gray officiating. Graveside Services will be held Sunday, June 13, 2004 at 2:00 p.m. at Pugh Family Cemetery, Volney Virginia with Rev. Alan Gray and Rev. Doug Halsey officiating. Military rites will be conducted by Francis Marion V.F.W. Post #4667. The family will receive friends Friday evening from 6:00 until 8:00 p.m. at Seaver-Brown Chapel. A reception will be held Sunday at 5:00 p.m. at Royal Oak Presbyterian Church. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Wellmont Hospice House, Wellmont Foundation, P.O. Box 1069, Kingsport, Tennessee 37662-9968 or Marion Life Saving Crew, P.O. Box 784, Marion, Virginia 24354. Honorary Pallbearers are Charles P. Harrington, Michael Harrington, William Harrington, Bob Parsons, Jack Parsons, Joe Pugh, Don Coffey, James Daugherty, Jason Bowen, Joshua White, and John Arthur.