Mr. Lawrence Alvin Harris

Harris, Lawrence A. - Age 87, of Knoxville, passed away peacefully at Parkwest Hospital, on Sunday, October 13, 2013. Larry, a member of Temple Beth El, was a WWII infantry veteran who fought in the European arena and was part of the Dachau Concentration Camp liberation force. After returning home to Brooklyn, New York, he received his B.A. in Geology from Brooklyn College. Subsequently he held a variety of jobs, including at the U.S. Optical Corporation in New Orleans, before marrying Diana Ruth Koffman of Memphis in 1951. Larry and Diana subsequently moved to Knoxville, where Larry earned his M.S. in Geology and Metallurgy from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville. He was pursuing his PhD when he accepted a post at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, where he worked from 1956 until his retirement in 1990. During his career he published nearly 100 scientific papers, many of them on microscopy and X-ray techniques. In addition, he was an exchange scientist at Harwell Labs in the UK in 1968-1969, and he served as adjunct assistant professor in the Geoscience Department at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville from 1974-1981. He continued consulting and working for MCL (Materials and Chemical Labs, Inc.) in Oak Ridge until his passing. He remained active in conducting scientific research, as well as pursuing his interests in geneaology, history, philosophy, and religion. Throughout his life he enjoyed traveling, reading, and spending time with his family. A loving husband, father, and grandfather, he is survived by Diana K. Harris, his wife of 62 years, his two daughters Marla Harris of Boston and Jennifer Harris-Dunham of Atlanta, and his four grandsons Jeremy, Nigel, Nicholas, and Eric. He also leaves his brother Boyce Harris of Pennsylvania, and numerous nieces and nephews. Graveside services will be held at the East Tennessee Veterans Cemetery, East John Sevier Highway, on Friday, October 18, at 11:30 with Rabbi Alon Ferency officiating and Full Military Honors presented. Special thanks to the staff of Home Instead for their help. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Doctors Without Borders. www.doctorswithoutborders.org Arrangements by Rose Mortuary Mann Heritage Chapel. Online condolences at www.rosemortuary.com

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Mr. Lawrence Alvin Harris

October 13, 2013