David James Harrison, age 92, of Morrisville, North Carolina passed away on Monday, January 3, 2022.

He was born on March 22, 1929 in Fort Wayne, Indiana to the late Paul Harrison and Evelyn Montgomery Harrison. Dave was a 1947 graduate of Hartford City High School (Indiana) where he met his future wife, Patricia Raylene Zeek. He was an active athlete while in high school playing on varsity football, basketball, and baseball teams. After high school, he was drafted as a professional baseball player by the Chicago Cubs and played for several of their farm teams. He played as a lefty pitcher for minor league teams located in Elizabethton Tenn., Centralia Illinois, Dothan Alabama, and Paris Illinois. He later attended Indiana University and graduated in 1952 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism. He was a member of the Sigma Chi fraternity. On July 13, 1952, he married his high school sweetheart, Patty (Zeek) Harrison. Dave served during the Korean War in the US Army Counter Intelligence Corps. He was stationed at Fort Holabird in Baltimore, Maryland. After the war, he worked as a sports writer for the Muncie Indiana newspaper where he was able to combine his love of sports with his journalism degree.

Dave changed his career path by taking a position with ITT Corp. in Philadelphia as a personnel labor relations manager. He was promoted multiple times during his time with ITT and relocated to Detroit, Michigan and Westport, Connecticut. He later worked for Inland Container Corp in Indianapolis Indiana where he served as Executive Vice President of Human Resources. In 1993, he retired from Inland Container after working there for 19 years.
Dave was an avid golfer and participated in many amateur tournaments throughout the US. Dave and Pat traveled to numerous locations with many friends who shared their love of travel, history, and golf. In 1994, Dave and Pat retired to Savannah Georgia at Skidaway Island where he enjoyed playing golf and continuing travels with friends. They moved to Cary, NC in 1999 in order to be closer to their grandchildren.

Dave was a devoted husband, father, and grandfather providing endless love and support to his family members. His support and care were especially evident when Pat had a heart transplant in 1993 which required a high level of dedication during her recovery. She survived an additional 16 years allowing them to enjoy their retirement and 57 years of marriage. Also, he provided much support to his grandsons who have special needs and developed a special bond with them.

He was predeceased by his infant son James David Harrison, his wife, Pat, and his sister, Bonnie Meyer.
Survivors include his son Thomas S. Harrison and wife Terri of Anderson, IN, daughter Kimberly H. Feller and husband John of Cary, NC, grandsons Nicholas and James Feller. The family will receive friends on Saturday, January 8th from 2-4pm and Brown-Wynne Funeral Home, 200 SE Maynard Road, Cary, NC 27511.

Memorial contributions in David's memory can be made to the Autism Society of North Carolina.