March 2, 1937 – March 18, 2017
KITTY HAWK – WilliamAubrey “Bill” Harris, 80, of Kitty Hawk, passed away peacefully atSentara Heart Hospital in Norfolk, Saturday, March 18, 2017. A nativeof Kitty Hawk, he was the son of the late Aubrey Alonzo Harris and EdnaBaum Harris. He graduated from Elizabeth City High School, and GuilfordCollege in Greensboro, NC. He served 8 years in the United States CoastGuard and USCG Reserves.
Upon graduation, he joined the National Park Service and became aHistorian at Wright Brothers National Memorial Cape Hatteras NationalSeashore Park, Ft. McHenry National Park (MD), Mt. Rushmore (SD), andwas promoted to Superintendent of Custer Battlefield (MT), Ft. Moultrieand Ft. Sumter (SC), Cape Hatteras National Seashore (NC), CumberlandIsland (GA), and Cape Lookout (NC). He was then a specialassistant in the Atlanta Regional Office before returning to CapeHatteras National Seashore where he retired after 38 years with theNational Park Service.
After retirement, he returned to his roots in Kitty Hawk where heserved on the Town Council as mayor 2001-2005. His love of KittyHawk drove this native to many years of extensive research andrecording history of the families, events, and community. He recentlycompleted the script for his proposed book about the Village of KittyHawk and its people. His hobby became photography of nature and locallandmarks and he built an extensive collection.
He was a Lifetime Member of the First Flight Society, serving for manyyears on its board and as its chairman. He had a special love ofThe Wright Brothers’ story due to his early family ties. He was amember of the Manteo Lodge #521 AF&AM, Kitty Hawk United MethodistChurch, active in local genealogy associations, and he was involved onvarious community committees over the years.
Bill was a loving husband, father, grandfather, brother and family man.His love and devotion to family connected him to many individuals inthe community and he never met a stranger and could find a familyrelationship in his daily contacts.
Along with his parents, Bill was predeceased by his brother, Roy Clavis Harris.
Bill is survived by his daughter, Judith Harris Fearing (Craig), andher mother, Frances Williams Harris; sister, Geneva Perry-Ward (Alvah);and grandchildren, Jillian, Chandler and Lindsea Fearing. He is alsosurvived by nephews, Mike Harrell (DeDee), and Clay Harris (Lisa);nieces, Cathy Elwang, Melanie H. Michael (Greg), and Allison H. Hope(Jeff); great-nieces, Randi H. Skaggs (Jerry), Tricia H. Tawes (David),and Chelsea E. Schoonmaker (Ray); great-nephews, Josh Elwang, andScott Hope; great-great-nephew, Tucker Skaggs; great-great-nieces,Kesleigh and Samantha Harris, Julia and Anna Tawes, and MacySkaggs; special cousins, Lorna S. Clark (family) and Matilda B. Zuhars(family); and many many cousins and extended family.
A Celebration of Bill’s Life will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday,March 22, 2017 at Kitty Hawk United Methodist Church to be officiatedby Reverend Jonathan Mills. Friends are invited to visit the family atBill’s home in Kitty Hawk.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to The FirstFlight Society, PO Box 1903, Kitty Hawk, NC 27949, or Kitty Hawk FireDept., PO Box 549, Kitty Hawk, NC 27949.
Twiford Funeral Home, Manteo is assisting the family with arrangements. Condolences may be expressed at www.twifordfh.com.
