Elizabeth Harrison

HARRISON, Elizabeth Allen, 97, of Clayton, Ohio, died on Valentine's Day, Sunday, February 14, 2016, at Grace Brethren Village. She was born on Saturday, August 17, 1918, in Stacey, Kentucky, near Rowdy and Troublesome Creek. Elizabeth was one of ten children and preceded in death by her parents, Sam Allen and Callie Campbell Allen; husband, Joel B. Harrison; brothers Herman, Thurmond and Cleveland Allen; sisters Surrilda Edwards, Lillie Newman, Paulina Combs, Stella Napier, Mabel Elkins; and son-in-law William Driver III. Elizabeth is survived by her sister, Bertha Napier of Rowdy, Kentucky; her son, Leon Harrison of West Carrollton, Ohio; her daughters, Debra Harrison of Trenton, New Jersey, and Janet Harrison Carney of Acworth, Georgia; son-in-law William Carney; grandsons Mark Lee Wardle, Matthew Carney (and Mrs. Laura Carney) and Joel Edward Carney (and fiancé Shawna). After graduating from Lee Junior College, at Jackson, Kentucky in 1941, Elizabeth taught school until she went to Ypsilanti, Michigan, to work at the Ford B-24 "Liberator" bomber factory at Willow Run. In 1944, she once again left her Rowdy kin and friends and joined the WACs; to be trained near Daytona, Beach, Florida, as a medical technician. While serving at an Army hospital in California, near Hollywood, Elizabeth was promoted to Technician Fifth Class or TEC-5 or T-5, while caring for returning wounded veterans of the Pacific Theater of Operations, including POWs who had been captured, abused and used by the Japanese. She also saw visiting movie stars, celebrities and USO shows. Elizabeth was there when World War Two came to an end in 1945 and was honorably discharged in 1946 (from the 28th WAC Hospital Company) to return to Rowdy. Elizabeth once again left Rowdy, to move to Dayton, Ohio, and work at Frigidaire. Joel B. Harrison left Berea, Kentucky, to work at Delco Products. They met and then married in 1948, before moving to 347 South Montgomery Street (off East 5th St. at the Dayton Towers); where they lived with their children, Leon, Janet and Debra, until the new Route 35 came through the old neighborhood. In 1959, they moved to Clayton, after buying the 10-acre remainder of the Denlinger farm (where a Kroger store now stands). Joel B. Harrison died in 1974 and Elizabeth retired from Delco Air in 1977, selling the old farm and buying her nice suburban ranch house without kids or spouse. She had a long and enjoyable retirement that included those 250-mile trips back "down home" to Rowdy to visit with kin and friends again; in addition to trips with her former Frigidaire coworkers and their impromptu reunion meals. Elizabeth attended the annual Mountain Days music festivals that were down-home reunions too; where she preferred the bluegrass side. She had the time to volunteer at Woman Line and also enjoyed browsing, buying and hanging out at the Salem Mall, SEARs, Penny's, Elder-Beerman and Kmart. She and Leon enjoyed fine dining at local restaurants, matinee movies and visiting with kin and friends. Tobias Funeral Home Englewood, Ohio (and Maggard Funeral Home, Hazard, KY) will return Elizabeth Allen back down home to Rowdy one final time, to be buried in the family plot above old Route 15 near the old Allen/Campbell home place. Her family likewise wants to express their sincere gratitude (and thanks) to the staff at Grace Brethren Village and the volunteers of Hospice of Dayton for their care, consideration and kindness. Private services will be held at the convenience of Elizabeth’s family. In lieu of flowers, contributions in memory of Elizabeth may be made to Hospice of Dayton, 324 Wilmington Avenue, Dayton, Ohio 45420. Messages of sympathy and support to Elizabeth’s family may be made at: www.tobiasfuneralhome.com.