Charles Edward Harris Major Charles E. Harris was born September 12, 1935, to Ethel Maydelle and Edward Harris in Paducah, KY. He was the oldest of their 4 children, all boys. He passed away October 17, 2021, in Wichita. Charlie graduated from the University of Kentucky and entered the United States Air Force as a lieutenant, having completed 4 years of ROTC at UK, and with a private pilot’s license. Charlie learned to fly B-47’s in Ohio and flew for SAC. After losing the sight in his left eye, the Air Force sent him to AFIT in Dayton, OH, to obtain a Master’s degree in Physics. He was assigned to the Weapons Laboratory as a Staff Scientist for nuclear weapons. In 1970, Charlie was assigned to Aerospace Research in Virginia. As part of this assignment, he was sent to sea in the South Pacific on a naval ship assignment for 6 months. The final days of his 20 ½ year Air Force career were in Washington, DC, at the Pentagon. After the Air Force, Charlie went to work for Boeing as an engineer on the B-52 project; worked in Litton, CA, as a software engineer; at Grumman in Long Island, NY, as a software engineer on the F-14D, and later in Virginia as a safety software engineer on the Space Station Freedom program. In 1983, Charlie married Donna (Matzek, Elpers) in Wichita. They enjoyed living in different locations, flying their Grumman Tiger, and traveling. Charlie retired in 2001, and he and Donna moved back to Wichita. He loved aviation, the comradery of other pilots, and teaching young people about airplanes. He was proud to have flown 1025 young people as part of the EAA Young Eagles program. In retirement, Charlie liked to play bridge, cribbage, do daily crossword puzzles, play computer games, and was an avid science fiction reader. As his health deteriorated, he started watching Hallmark shows and airplane shows. He enjoyed holidays, especially Christmas. With the help of Kim Potter, his wonderful, loving, and long-time caregiver, he’d spend days deciding on many small gifts for Donna, for which he gave Kim specific wrapping instructions. Thanks, Kim, for your love and patience with him. Survivors: wife of 38 years, Donna (Matzek, Elpers) Harris; brother, Don Harris of Paducah, KY; children, Michael (Gayle) of Mesa, AZ, Susan Harris of Neosho, MO, Andrew (Jaimee) of Cleveland, OH, Holly (William) Hall of Paducah, KY, Amy (Chris) McGinness of Belknap, IL, Becky Harris of Paducah, KY; stepchildren, Gregg (Lorri) Elpers of Broken Arrow, OK, Suzanne (Pat) Blasi of Wichita, Annette (Steve) Beck of Topeka, and Michael (Theresa) Elpers of Wichita. Charlie and Donna have 25 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren. Deceased family members are his parents, Edward and Ethel Maydelle Harris; son, Christopher Harris; brothers, Max and George Harris. Memorials have been established with Covenant Presbyterian Church, 1750 N. Tyler Rd., Wichita, KS 67212 and Harry Hynes Memorial Hospice, 313 S. Market, Wichita, KS 67203. Graveside Services with military honors will be 10:30 a.m., Saturday, November 13, 2021, at Resurrection Cemetery, 1640 N. Maize Rd., Wichita, KS. A reception will follow at Covenant Presbyterian Church. Downing & Lahey Mortuary West.

Charles Edward Harris “Ed” or “Skip” a retired Cessna employee of 40 years and a U.S. Army veteran, passed away March 11, 2018. He was born in Wichita on Nov. 2, 1930. He was preceded in death by his parents and a sister as well as his wife of 48 years Floriene (Giannangelo). He is survived by many loving nieces and nephews, their families, and Virginia Saltkill, his companion of 15 years. A service will be held at Downing and Lahey Mortuary, 6555 E. Central, Wichita, KS at 10:00 a.m. on Friday April 6, 2018. Private burial has taken place. Memorials may be made to the Orpheum Theater, 200 N. Broadway, Ste. 102, Wichita, KS 67202 or The Kansas Aviation Museum, 3350 George Washington Blvd., Wichita, KS 67210.