Obituary
Val Edward Harris, age 79, of Kerwood Loop, The Villages, Florida passed away August 5, 2021 at The Villages Regional Hospital.
Born February 14, 1942 in Marion, Indiana, the son of Charles and Hazel (née Hoppes) Harris, Val graduated from Marion High School and Wabash College. He earned his Master’s Degree in Divinity at Perkins School of Theology (Southern Methodist University, Dallas, TX) and returned to Indiana to serve in the North Indiana Conference of the United Methodist Church for twenty-three years. He served Grace UMC in Anderson, Stull UMC and Immanuel UMC in South Bend, Forest Park UMC in Fort Wayne, Daleville UMC, and Grace UMC in Kokomo. Val later worked in the financial investment industry. After retiring to The Villages, Val was active with New Covenant United Methodist Church’s Sunday school and gleaning group. He also led a genealogy special interest group and was an active member of Friendship Force, a group dedicated to encouraging peace through international personal connections with travel and hosting.
Preceded in death by his parents, his brother Charles (Harriet) Harris, and sister Emily (Earl) Gazarian; Val is survived by his wife Eleanor of The Villages; brothers Phil (Georgette) Harris of Indianapolis, and Barry (Patricia) Harris of Brownsburg, Indiana; daughters Dawn (James) Floyd of New Lenox Township, Illinois, and Diane (Greg) Borgard of Carmel, Indiana; and five grandchildren, Tyler Borgard, Caroline Floyd, Riley Borgard, Benjamin Floyd, and Emma Borgard.
A memorial service is planned for 11:00 AM Friday, October 29 at New Covenant United Methodist Church, 3470 Woodridge Drive, The Villages, Florida. The following streaming link is provided by the church for friends and family who are unable to attend. https://www.ncumcfl.com/memorial-services
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to New Covenant UMC, 3470 Woodridge Drive, The Villages, Florida, 32162 or Grace UMC, 212 W. Walnut Street, Kokomo, Indiana 46901.
On a family vacation - Caribbean cruise. We all had fun and made great memories together ❤️❤️❤️
It seems like yesterday when Val and I were roommates at Perkins School of Theolgy. We were young, idealistic and eager to make the world a better place, and then, in August of 1966 we were the best men in each other’s wedding. Goodbye my friend and I will cherish our conversation the week before you left for the eternal kingdom. See you on the other side
Jay
I am so sorry about Val. He was such a good man. I learned so much from him that I didn’t realize for years. We were blessed to know him.
Karen and Paul Zimmerman
Our Faithlinks Sunday School class at New Covenant United Methodist in The Villages, Florida.
Val & Eleanor’s 50th anniversary