William A. Harris

William Alvinza Harris, 77, of Brooktondale, passed away at Beechtree Care Center on Saturday, April 23, surrounded by family. He was born to Ina and Ralph Harris Sr. on November 24, 1938. Bill attended Dryden High School and then worked on a dairy farm, where he met his future wife when she and her dad came to pick up the milk. He worked as a machine operator at Ithaca Gun Company for 44 years. When he received recognition for his work and was asked what he would like, he asked to make a gun with a brass receiver. Management gave Bill permission but asked him to make two extras for them. Bill also worked as a machine operator at Therm, then at Cornell University as a custodian. Bill was a wild game hunter, hunting turtles, frogs, deer, rabbit, pigeons, all of which he ate. He was an excellent fisherman and traveled every year to Yellow Lake in Gouverneur. He knew the good fishing spots on Cayuga Lake, Lake Ontario and the best place to ice fish on Dryden Lake. Bill was a woodworker and built several heavy-duty clothes racks and completely remodeled his house. He was also an excellent mechanic and was always tinkering on one of his tractors or lawn mowers and most recently a 1950s Jeep he was making into a snowplow. He made numerous custom pieces on his lathe, a rifle of his own design, and a number of interlocking 3D puzzles.
He was an avid gardener with beautiful geraniums, and he enjoyed raising and flying homing and tumbler pigeons. He was a member of the Danby Community Church and volunteered at the Danby Food Pantry. Bill was capable and willing to help anyone, always making time for others. Bill is survived by his loving wife of 56 years, Ann (Hubbard) Harris, of Brooktondale; their children: Johnny (Lorrie), of Harford; Jeffrey Harris, of Ithaca; Jackie (Matt Blaker) Harris, of Brooktondale; and Jill (Roger) Wilber, of Aberdeen, MD; four grandchildren: Jennifer, Chris, Kathy and Morgan; and his two sisters Madeline Thurnheer and Bethel Gauthier. He was predeceased by his parents; his sister, Beverly Harris; his brother, Ralph Harris; and daughter in law, Terri L. Harris.
Calling hours are Tuesday, April 26, from 4 to 6M at Perkins Funeral Home in Dryden. The funeral will be Wednesday, April 27th at 11 AM at the Danby Community Church. Burial will be private in Caroline Grove Cemetery, Brooktondale.