Harry Noble Burris

Harry Noble Burris, age 78, died peacefully at Alliance Community Hospital on Saturday, July 29, 2017.
A lifelong resident of Alliance, Harry is survived by his wife Darla Dee Burris (Price-Hardman), son Louis Burris, and step-children Warren Price and Shawna Price-Flanagan; his grandchildren, Brennan, Lauren and Oliver Price; granddaughter Jedi Flanagan; his brother Bill Burris; and two beloved dogs, Spike and Poncho.
Harry was preceded in death by his parents, Noble Burris and Elizabeth Burris (Clinton), and sisters Betty Powers (Davies-Burris) and Charlotte Bender (Burris).
Born exceptionally strong willed at his parents' home on June 20, 1939, Harry went to Greenbower School in Limaville before attending Alliance High School where he played football and hooky with equal determination.
In 1960, he began his career at Babcock & Wilcox Tubular Products Division (PTC Alliance) on Keystone Street at the age of 21. After several years, his natural talent for math and mechanics led to a 5-year machinist apprenticeship where his studies included metallurgical theory and practice, engineering principles, and precision fabrication. Undaunted by a hazardous, stifling work environment, swing shifts, and de-industrialization, Harry settled into a 41-year career as a machinist until retiring happily in 2001.
In spite of the demands of his profession, it allowed him to pursue his lifelong passion of aviation and on the morning of July 29, 1972, with his Student Pilot Certificate in hand; Harry began flight training at Tri-City Airport. From the beginning, his natural feel for flying and grasp of aeronautics were apparent and he was allowed his first solo flight after only 6 hours in the log. He continued training for another 8 months and in March of 1973, earned his Private Pilot's License in a Piper (PA-28) Cherokee 140. Never one to rest on his laurels, Harry challenged himself to earn multiple safety and proficiency certifications and completed the difficult work to become an instrument rated pilot. In his 30 years of flying, Harry logged more than 1300 hours in the air and landed safely (except that one time) in 112 locations across the country. Harry was a member of the Taylorcraft Flying Club and the Aircraft Owner's and Pilot's Association (AOPA) for 45 years.
Between the mid-1950s and his death on July 29th, Harry owned countless classic American automobiles including a 1955 Thunderbird, a pink and black 1956 Fairlane 500 known as "Bubble Gum", and a 1965 Mustang convertible that he restored to its original glory in the late 1990's. His silver 1982 Ford F-150 Flareside became a classic of west State Street and was often spotted at Doug's 57 where he was a regular. Harry recently took on a large-scale repair of the 1952 Ford tractor he's used to maintain his Lexington Township farm for 31 years.
A true lover of life, Harry enjoyed golfing, travel, the outdoors, Miles Davis, Willie Nelson, his friends, beer, American history, coins, reading, and to everyone's delight, his grandchildren. He relished his role as a grandfather and was adored in turn by them. Married for 38 years, Harry and Darla made a beautiful life at the top of the hill even though they have to plow it every damn winter.
Having lived and loved so well, Harry died surrounded by his family and the devoted ICU staff at Alliance Community Hospital.
A celebration of Life will be held at the Beechwood Playground at 2270 Beechwood Avenue in Alliance on Friday, August 11th from 4pm-8pm.
In lieu of flowers, the Burris Family asks that mourners consider making a donation to Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation at www.curemeso.org
Arrangements are by Cassaday-Turkle-Christian Funeral Home.