Obituary of Charles Leon Harman

Charles Leon Harman passed away on November 6, 2011. He was born on May 31, 1928, the third son of Ebb and Ada Calliham Harman, in Pelly, Texas. At an early age, Charles and his family moved to Highlands, Texas, where he grew to manhood. Charles completed first through twelfth grades in Goose Creek ISD, graduating for Robert E. Lee High School. He attended Lee College for two years and then graduated from Texas Tech University with a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering. After college, during the Korean War conflict, Charles spent two years at the U.S. Army Ordinance Training School at Aberdeen, Maryland, teaching both officers and enlisted men how to repair various types of turret artillery. Charles’ working career was spent at one manufacturing plant in Missouri City, Texas. He spent 27 years employed by W-K-M Division, ACF Industries and 12 years by Cameron Valves. During the 39 years, Charles held a variety of positions in the Manufacturing Engineering Dept. including Manager of Plant Engineering. Charles retired in 1996, but he continued to work on a part-time basis for a number of years. Charles was a long-time member of the Methodist Church and he served in a number of leadership roles in four Methodist churches. He was a member of Pearland First United Methodist Church, Open Door Sunday School Class for many years. Charles’ lifetime was devoted to his church, family, friends, and country. He will be remembered by many for his smile, cheerful greeting, and pleasant manner. Charles was pre-deceased by his parents, his first wife, Martha Ferguson Harman, his youngest son, John Ferguson Harman, and three brothers, Oliver M. Harman, Eldon E. Harman, and Oswall H. Harmann. Charles is survived by his loving wife, Zdenky Skrla Harman; son, Charles R. Harman and wife, Valerie, daughters, Meg Kleinschmidt and husband, Ulrich, Susan Ellington and husband, Sam; sisters, Cynthia Bolles and Pearl Parker; sisters-in-law, Patsy Harman, Brenda Harman, and Betty Harman; five grandchildren, Jonathan and Erik Kleinschmidt, Jessica Soucie, Lindsey O’Neal, and Julianne Ellington and many loving nieces and nephews; and a host of many other family and friends. The family wishes to give special thanks to the staff at Colonial Oaks Pearland and Heart to Heart Hospice for their loving care of Charles. A Visitation for Charles will be held on Wednesday, November 9, 2011 from 6:00 to 8:00 pm at Clayton Funeral Home, 5530 W. Broadway, Pearland, Texas 77581. The Funeral Service will be held on Thursday, November 10, 2011 at 11:00 am at First United Methodist Church, 2314 North Grand Blvd., Pearland, Texas 77581 with Dr. Bob Joiner officiating. Interment will follow at Forest Park Lawndale Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations in Charles’ memory may be made to First United Methodist Church Pearland and to American Heart Association.