Willard J. Harman, O.D.

Willard James Harman, age 94, of Huntington, died at 9:00 a.m. Monday (October 13, 2014) at Heritage Pointe in Warren. Visitation will be held from 4 p.m. - 7 p.m. Thursday (October 16, 2014) at Bailey-Love Mortuary, 35 West Park Drive, Huntington. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Friday (October 17, 2014) at Bailey-Love Mortuary with Rev. Robert Land officiating. There will be one hour of visitation prior to the funeral service. Burial will be in Beech Grove Cemetery in Huntington County. Preferred memorials are to Trinity United Methodist Church of Huntington, in care of Bailey-Love Mortuary, 35 West Park Drive, Huntington, IN. Willard was born November 20, 1919 in Paulding County, Ohio, the son of Everett Verle and Mary Edna (Billman) Harman. He graduated from Elmhurst High School in 1936 and received his Doctor of Optometry degree from Illinois College of Optometry in 1941. He married Zona V. Harmon on December 8, 1943 in South Bend; she survives. Willard practiced optometry in South Bend for 13 years. In 1954, he assumed an optometry practice in Huntington. Joined by his son Eric in 1977, he retired in 1993. He and his wife were sail boaters out of Michigan City, Indiana from 1947-1951 and again from 1966-2005, winning the Chicago to Mackinac Sailboat Race four times. He was an avid hunter and enjoyed muzzle loading rifles. He and his wife loved to travel and enjoyed wintering in Key West, Florida after their retirement until 2008. Willard was a member of Trinity United Methodist Church in Huntington. Willard is survived by his wife of 70 years - Zona V. Harman of Huntington; his daughter - Joyce (Frank) Bebey of Anchorage, Alaska; his son - Eric (Shirley) Harman of Huntington; grandchildren - Tia (Jim) Martin of Tucson, Arizona, Tamara (Bill) Stephenson of Anchorage, Alaska, Frank Bebey of Anchorage, Alaska, Megan Callahan of Aurora, Illinois, Jennifer (Brian) Kozel of Evergreen, Colorado, Michelle (Trevor) Lee of Denver, Colorado, David (Stacy) Callahan of Fort Wayne, Valerie (Lucas) Rumple of Fort Wayne, Eric J. Harman of Warsaw, and Phillip Harman of North Webster; and 16 great grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his parents, his brothers - Willis Harman and Raymon Harman, a granddaughter - Terra Bebey, and a great grandson - Landon Michael Callahan.

Willard J. Harman, O.D.

November 20, 1919 - October 13, 2014