Ronald Harmon, 52

SEAFORD - Ronald Harmon, of Seaford, a servant of God, passed from this earth on Saturday, March 8, 2008, in Beebe Hospital, Lewes, from injuries sustained while working on an electrical repair for Delaware Electric Cooperative, of which he was employed. He was 52.

Ronald was the third of 12 children born to the late Tolbert and Rosetta Harman, in Fort Hood, Texas.

His father, Tolbert Harmon, was a wounded Korean War veteran and was so proud of his military career that he raised his own children in a military style environment, which resembled a military basic training camp.

When Ronald graduated from high school, he diligently followed in the footsteps of his father and three other siblings and enlisted in the U.S. Army during the time of the Vietnam conflict, and he served his country well.

Ronald's military career was expansive and he quickly rose through the ranks to the top 10 percent of his training battalion and during his basic training at Fort Dix, N.J., he was awarded his first stripe. After completing MOS Career Training School he received his first station assignment in Grafenwohr, Germany, and in 1977 he obtained the rank of specialist-4.

While attending college at the University of Delaware, he was encouraged to join the U.S. Air Force Reserves by a persistent Air Force recruiter. Ronald was a member of the heavy equipment shop and the electrical shop where he obtained the rank of senior master sergeant and the position of superintendent.

Ronald served under the leadership of some of the military's best and had memorable annual tours, which included Myrtle Beach, S.C.; Dobbins Air Force Base, Ga.; Langley Air Force Base, Va.; McGuire Air Force Base, N.J.; Eglin Air Force Base, Fla.; Fort Devens, Mass.; Pope Air Force Base, N.C.; and Barksdale Air Force Base, La. His overseas tours included Germany, England, Spain, Italy, Central America and South America.

While on assignments he performed many duties which included helping to build a public school house for needy children as part of a joint venture between NATO and the country of South America, building and wiring housing for native American Indians, providing intelligence and security communication for real world and training exercise, replacing and replacing 65 foot poles and lights for ball fields, erecting pavilions, buildings, roads, tents and runways and his favorite, which included helping to restore power supplies for military camps or bivouacs.

Ronald participated in a numerous community events, counsel youth in correctional facilities, communication out-reach programs for families and the elderly.

Ronald was the devoted and doting husband of Betty Purnell, and he was a father who showed his children the importance of love, respect, honor, dedication and hard work. He was a man who showed his family and friends that just being a man was not enough, but that being a man of God was the ultimate.

He was a devout elder at Victory Temple Church in Bridgeville, where he served faithfully under the leadership of his brother-in-law, Bishop David Purnell, and his co-pastor, First Lady Ella Purnell.

In addition to being an elder within this church, he was one of the church musician's, (organist and drummer when needed), and he was the Sunday school union teacher.

In his younger years, he was a member of Welcome Full Gospel Church, Lincoln.

He will be remembered as a man of God, and as a person who had little to say, but enjoyed even the smallest things life had to offer. He liked to make candle-floral arrangements, fruit baskets, work in his yard, photography, travel, fish and he really like to coordinate events.

His family and friends referred to him as "The Great Patriot."

In addition to his parents, a brother, Bruce Harmon, predeceased him.

Ronald is survived by his wife, Betty of Seaford; two sons, Raymond (Lisha) Purnell of Newark and Lovett Purnell of Tampa, Fla.; three daughters, Tredena (Anthony) Trott of Felton and Ronshelle and Christina Harmon of Seaford; 11 grandchildren; a sister, Tolberletta Harmon of Lincoln; nine brothers, Hershell (Samantha) Harmon of North Carolina, Mark (Crystal) Harmon of Wilmington, Joshua Harmon of Texas, Quinn (Gladys) Harmon of Millsboro, Timothy Harmon of Smyrna, Curtis (Karen) Harmon of Dover, Baron (Pandora) Harmon of Ellendale, Anthony (Erica) Harmon of Texas and Talbert Harris of New Jersey; two godsons, Dwayne Wright and Christopher Horsey; two goddaughters, LaToya Roberts and Chiza Sykes; his best friends, Brauncey Jenkins, Jerome Drayton, Randy Jones, Mike Taylor and Bill Spady; the entire 512 Airlift Wing Unit of the National Guard; as well as a host of other relatives and friends.

Funeral service will be Saturday at noon at Crossroads Church, U.S. 13 South, Dover.

Friends may call this evening from 6 to 8 p.m. at Refuge Temple Church, Stein Highway, Seaford, and one hour prior to the funeral service on Saturday. Final viewing will be at the beginning of the funeral service only.

Interment will be in the Old Hickory Cemetery, Slaughter Neck.

Flowers will be accepted at Refuge Temple today anytime after 2 p.m.

Professional services by Deborah E. Harris-Nock Funeral Services, Greenwood.