Elton Jonah Harrison, age 89, went to meet Jesus face to face on April 23, 2020. He was born to Herman and Beulah Stalls Harrison on July 12, 1930, at their home on Campbell Hill Road. He spent his first seventeen years on the Joseph R. Harrison farm. When he reached the age of seventeen, he joined the U. S. Regular Army. After basic training at Fort Jackson, SC, he was assigned to General Douglas MacArthur's headquarters in Tokyo where he remained for nineteen months. What an exciting assignment to serve under the command of one of the most outstanding generals in our history. He was on the sixth floor of the Dai-ichi Building, and Elton was on the second floor. During this time in history, our country promoted certain generals from four stars to five stars. MacArthur was one of these, and Dwight D. Eisenhower was another.

After Elton's discharge, he was employed at the Basket Factory in Williamston and was promoted to Foreman of the Covers Department in a short time. He was there for about seven months, and then joined the U. S. Air Force where he remained until retirement on January 1, 1970.

He met Iva Jean Corey, the most wonderful girl in the world, of Farm Life in 1949, and they were married on August 19, 1950. His wife of sixty-eight years preceded him in death on October 14, 2018. They had just celebrated their sixty-eighth anniversary on August 19, 2018.

Elton had served a tour of two years in the Regular Army, and six months in the Army Reserve before he met Jean in 1949. Jean was a constant companion to Elton for his entire service of twenty years and six months in the United States Air Force, except for a one year tour in Thule, Greenland and a one year tour in Southeast Asia. She traveled with him and their two daughters (Brenda and Terri) on a two year tour in the Panama Canal Zone. They moved several times to many Air Force bases in the U.S.

Elton also worked for the Veterans Administration for fourteen and one-half years. He worked at seven different VA Medical Centers during this time. Jean was his sweetheart during all this time. She, along with our two great children, Brenda and Terri, made life worth living. They moved six times during his employment with the VA.

There is one daughter surviving: Terri Anne Erwin (husband Richard). The other daughter, Brenda Jean Alexander, preceded him in death.

Elton's parents, Herman and Beulah Stalls Harrison, and Norma Pearl Harrison, Elton's only sister, preceded him in death. Norma Pearl's two children, Frankie and Elaine, Elton's nephew and niece, survive.

There are eight grandchildren: Travis L. Erwin (wife Sarah), Tyler L. Erwin, Trevor L. Erwin, Tully L. Erwin (wife Elizabeth), Caleb Alexander (wife Casie), Gideon Alexander (wife Nina), Bethany Barmer (husband Ricki), and Sarah Alexander. Two grandchildren, Jacob and Enoch are dead.

There are eight great grandchildren: Annabelle Rosalie Erwin (parents Tully and Elizabeth Erwin), Blaire and Cassalina Erwin – identical twins (parents Tully and Elizabeth Erwin), Asher Alexander (parents Caleb and Casie Alexander), Jackson Alexander (parents Gideon and Nina Alexander), Charlotte Alexander (parents Gideon and Nina Alexander), Ryker Barmer (parents Ricky and Bethany Barmer), and Gabriel Barmer (parents Ricky and Bethany Barmer).

Elton was a member of Everetts Christian Church before he joined the U. S. Army. His mother, Beulah Harrison, was a charter member of Everetts Christian Church. He was also baptized for a second time in the Jordan River, Israel. He and Jean visited Israel in 1992. Elton returned for two more visits, in 1994 and in 1998.

After Elton retired from the Veterans Administration in 1986, Elton and Jean returned to Williamston, and he changed his church membership to Maple Grove Christian Church.

Visitation will be at Walker Funeral Home on Monday, April 27, 2020, from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. Graveside Services will be held at 3:30 p.m. at Hardison's Mill Cemetery, Farm Life. Joey Brickhouse, Pastor of Maple Grove Christian Church, and Cecil Elks, Pastor of Everetts Christian Church, will conduct the graveside services. Arthur Frank Harrison, Jr. and his son, Justin, will be providing the inspirational music.