Ralph P. "Duck" Harbison

Sunday, November 25, 2007

, 88, Knox, died Saturday.

Born in Russellville, he was the son of Alvin T. and Eva F. (Grimes) Harbison.

A U.S. Navy veteran, he served in the Pacific during World War II.

A graduate of Russellville High School, he was later inducted into the High School Athletic Hall of Fame. He was a graduate of Indiana State teachers College, and was a teacher and coach at Mattoon High School in Illinois and at Greencastle High School. He served as principal at North Salem, Attica and Rushville, and was superintendent of Knox Community Schools for 17 years, and retired as assistant superintendent at Clinton Community Schools. He was a 32nd degree Mason, a member of North Salem Masonic Lodge, South Bend Scottish Rite, Knox Kiwanis Club and was a founding member of Knox radio station WKVI.

He married Maryola Craycraft on March 12, 1939 in Greencastle. She survives.

Also surviving are their children, Karin Dicks and husband John, Gardnerville, Nev., and Steven Harbison and wife Judy, Lake, Mich.; and three grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by daughter Sondra Kay Michaels, a sister and five brothers.

Services will be at 10 a.m. Thursday at M.C. Smith Funeral Home, Knox. Burial will be in Hebron Cemetery, Russellville.

Visitation is 4-7 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home.