Sheldon Harris

Sheldon Harris, 84, of Summerfield, Florida passed away on Sunday, February 16, 2020 at his daughter’s home in Newcastle, CA. He was born January 23, 1936 to Robert Thurston Harris and Mildred Sheldon Harris.

In 1955, Sheldon entered the United States Air Force Aviation cadets where he trained to become a Navigator. He graduated in August 1957 and was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant. In 1958, while in Salina, Kansas for training, Sheldon met the love of his life Shirley Anne Pyles They were married on September 6, 1958. They went on to have three children, Michelle, Derrick and Daryelle.

Sheldon had a long illustrious career in the Air Force with Shirley at his side as they traveled to bases throughout the United States. He flew the B-47 and the B-58 Hustler while assigned to USAF Strategic Air Command. He flew during the Cuban Missile Crisis, a United States Air Force Cold-War era mission in the B-52 Stratofortress strategic bomber aircraft armed with thermonuclear weapons where the squadrons remained on continuous airborne alert, flying routes to points on the Soviet Union border. Sheldon also flew during Vietnam, bringing supplies to the ground troops. The last plane Sheldon flew during a war time effort was the C-130 during the first Persian Gulf War in 1991 where he was again working with USAF Strategic Air Command while assigned to the 940th Air Refueling Group. He loved to say he was a “FART (Federal Air Reserve Technician) and “passed gas” for a living! Sheldon retired as a Lieutenant Colonel from Mather AFB in Sacramento, CA. Sheldon’s career spanned almost 36 years. He loved being a navigator and loved flying.

After retirement in May 1991, Sheldon and Shirley relocated to Florida and Tennessee. They enjoyed traveling throughout the south to gamble and play competitive duplicate bridge. Both achieved Life Master status and were well known on the competitive Duplicate Bridge circuit. Sheldon enjoyed fishing and taking the grandkids out fishing with him when they visited. He and Shirley also enjoyed shooting and both were accomplished shooters with handguns and shotguns.

In 2009, they finally settled in Summerfield, Florida with their little black poodle Rafael. In September 2018, Sheldon and Shirley celebrated their 60th Wedding Anniversary.

Sheldon is preceded in death by his loving wife Shirley, his son Derrick, his parents and his brother Thomas “Tommy” Harris and granddaughter Selena Vowel, and his constant companion, his dog Rafael. He is survived by his brother Robert “Bobby” Harris of Vero Beach, Florida, daughters Michelle Boyes, (husband Jeff Boyes) of Newcastle, CA and Daryelle “Dede” Vowell of Ocala Fl, and six grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

Sheldon will be interred with his wife Shirley on April 15th with full military honors at the Bushnell National Cemetery in Bushnell, Florida with Military honors. Services will be private.