Eugene Harris Lansford

July 9, 1920 – September 18, 2014

LANSFORD, Eugene Harris 94, a WWII veteran and longtime resident of St. Petersburg, passed away Sept. 18, 2014. He worked for Eastern Air Lines for 37 years, mostly at St. Petersburg-Clearwater International Airport and Tampa International before his retirement in 1983. Harris was preceded in death by his parents, Robert and Roxa Lansford, and his beloved wife of 62 years, Mary Evelyn Lansford. 

He is survived by two children Linda (Mike) Dallmann of Clearwater and Larry Owen (Jean) Lansford of Gainesville, FL; grandchildren, Leigh Ann Ebert and Benjamin Lansford; and four great-grandchildren. Harris was born in 1920 in Chattanooga, TN, but grew up in Lakeland, FL, and graduated from Florida Southern College. In 1942, he enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Force and served his country in WWII for more than three years as an airplane mechanic. 

He was attached to the 95th Heavy Bomb Group in eastern England as part of the 8th Air Force. Harris described the war as "utter insanity" but considered serving his country as his greatest adventure as a member of The Greatest Generation. He was honorably discharged as Corporal and received a Good Conduct medal, an ETO (European Theater of Operations) ribbon, and four Group Presidential Commendations. He met his future wife, Mary Evelyn Owen, a blithe and bubbly college gal working at his parents' Lansford Piano Company. 

Their marriage in 1949 would endure until Mary Evelyn's passing in 2011. In 1951 the couple moved to St. Petersburg and within two years had two children, Linda and Larry. In 1954 the family joined St. Luke's Methodist Church, where Mary Evelyn worked for 13 years in church school administration before a mid-life career change to English teaching. St. Luke's remained the center of their lives. Harris and Mary Evelyn were wonderful role models for Linda and Larry through the love, laughter and Christian morals they shared. 

Harris once said he'd like to be remembered as "a good husband and father, and a card-carrying member of The Greatest Generation." He lived up to that. Eugene Harris Lansford now rests in peace, reunited with Mary Evelyn, the love of his life. Both shall remain in our hearts and fondest memories forever. National Cremation Society is handling funeral arrangements. A memorial celebration of Harris's life will be held at St. Luke's United Methodist Church, 4444 5th Avenue North, St. Petersburg, at 2 pm Saturday, Oct. 4. Reception in fellowship hall following service. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to St. Luke's United Methodist Church.)

September 28, 2014 | Tampa Bay Times (FL)

Photo courtesy of his family.