William Moran Harbison

William Moran Harbison, 90, a native of Morganton, died Sunday, October 18, 2009 at his home after a long illness. He was born September 28, 1919 to the late William Moran Harbison, Sr. and Mullie Orders Harbison. He was a long time member of the First Baptist Church where he had served as deacon and usher and where he was a member of the Huffman Bible Class, having served as its secretary for many years prior to his illness. William was a Morganton High School graduate and then served four years during World War II with the U.S. Army Air Corps in the South Pacific. He was a retired employee of Great Lakes Carbon Corporation where he had worked for 34 years.Surviving are his wife of 59 years, Bettijoe Watts Harbison; daughters, Denise H. Boone and her husband, R.T., Kathie H. Waldroup and her husband, Kevin, all of Morganton, Janice H. Sumter of Hickory, and Doris H. Mestel and her husband, Larry of Cincinnati, OH; grandchildren, Jessica McCurry of Greenville, SC, Brooke S. Rhoney and her husband, Brian of Hickory, Zachary McCurry of Morganton, Kara Sumter of Hickory, Hannah McCurry of Morganton, and Rob, Jonathan, and Kenneth Mestel all of Cincinnati; a great-grandson, Noah Rhoney of Hickory; a step-granddaughter, Lexis Waldroup of Morganton; step-great grandsons, Cole, Jake, Sean, and Luke Rhoney all of Hickory; and sisters, Musette H. Hauser and Susan H. Noggle both of Morganton, and Dean H. Kirkpatrick and her husband, Jim of Raleigh, NC.In addition to his parents, William was preceded in death by a brother, Yates Harbison of Kings Mountain, NC.The funeral will be held at Noon, Wednesday, October 21, 2009 at the First Baptist Church with Dr. Thomas A. Bland, Jr., Rev. Fred Schuszler, and Rev. William Hall officiating and with members of the Huffman Bible Class, Rudy Bell, Jim Holland, and Eddie Gwaltney serving as honorary pallbearers. Burial will follow in Burke Memorial Park. The family will receive friends in the church sanctuary for one hour prior to the service. In lieu of flowers memorial gifts may be made to the First Baptist Church Building Fund, P. O. Drawer 459, Morganton, NC 28680-0459 or to Burke Hospice and Palliative Care, Inc., 1721 Enon Rd., Valdese, NC 28690. Sossoman Funeral Home is assisting the family.