Joseph Harmon, Jr

Born August 27, 1927 in Wilmington, DE, Joseph Alexander Harmon, Jr. was the son of Joseph A. Harmon and Mary Lewis and was their youngest child, having two older sisters who predeceased him: Esther (Carter) and an adopted sister, Bernice (Baxter). The son of deeply religious parents, Joe, as most called him, and his sisters were well-loved and well-cared for. As a young man, Joe was given to athletics and participated in extracurricular activities, earning letters in football and track.
In the fall of 1944, Joe enlisted in the Army Reserves and enrolled in an accelerated engineering program at Rutgers University. As World War II was ending, Joe served as a Corporal in the 5th Quartermaster Training Company, being honorably discharged in November of 1946. Joseph married Althea Unthank on June 20, 1948. The couple had three children: Althea, who died at birth; Joseph Albion Harmon; and Michelle Annette Harmon (Bonner). Joe graduated from Hampton Institute (now Hampton University) in 1951 with a diploma in the electrical trades and he went on to service military aircraft at the Norfolk Naval base as an electrician.
Joseph was later employed by the Department of Defense as an aircraft electrician at the Dover, Delaware Airforce Base. In 1959 he was transferred to Pittsburgh as a supervisory Quality Control Representative, Inspector of Navy Materiel with an office in the Westinghouse Electric Company. In 1975 Joseph was transferred to Reading, Pennsylvania as supervisor of that office. The office came under the oversight of the Department of Labor shortly after his transfer. Joseph ended his career by retiring in 1982 as Director of the Reading Area Office for the Department of Labor's Employment Standards Administration, which was responsible for Federal contractors' compliance with EEO Affirmative Action requirements in thirty-seven counties in Central and Eastern Pennsylvania. One of the greatest honors in his career with the United States Department of Defense was receiving the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Apollo Achievement Award in 1969. After retirement, Joe pursued his interest in real estate, working as a real estate agent.
Always an energetic man, Joe loved sports, especially baseball and football and watching wrestling competitions. An avid bowler, Joe only recently retired from the sport, having been an active member of bowling leagues in every community in which he lived. He and Althea also were fierce pinochle card players, often playing cards with friends and neighbors into the early morning!
His greatest joy came from serving God through his church and community. In the Reading community, Joe was a former active member of the Memorial Church of the Holy Cross where he held many leadership positions, such as President of the Adult Fellowship Class, chairman of the Administrative Council, chairman of the Staff Parish Relations Committee and a board member and President of Northwest Neighborhood Ministries (now defunct), a joint outreach ministry of three local congregations. He also was an active member of and participant in the Western Conference of the United Methodist Church. Joe served on the Board of Directors of the Berks County American Red Cross; a member and President of the board of the local chapter of the NAACP; and a member of the Board of the Foundation for the Reading Museum. In 1988 he received the Reading Kiwanis Club Citizen of the Year award and was recognized by the American Red Cross.
A true gentle man who loved his family, his God and his church, Joe leaves to mourn his death and celebrate his life: his wife of over 70 years, Althea Harmon; his children, The Rev'd Joseph A. Harmon and Michelle A. Bonner (Calvin); his grandchildren Tiesha Gunnel (Robert), Jesse Harmon and Elisha Bonner; his great grandson, Jaheem N. Harmon; and a host of relatives and friends. Joseph lived with the blessed assurance Jesus was his, praising his Savior all the day long. As he stands before the throne of grace, may he hear the Savior's words of welcome, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant . . . Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world." Matthew 25:21 and 34b.
A service to celebrate his life will take place Monday morning, January 7, 2019 at the West Lawn United Methodist church, 15 Woodside Avenue in Reading, PA (19609) with viewing from 9:45 to 10:45 and the funeral service at 11:00. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the non-profit Berks County Prison Society, Berks County Courthouse, 16th Floor, 633 Court Street, Reading, PA 19601. Bean Funeral Home, 3825 Penn Ave. Sinking Spring is in charge of arrangements and online condolences may be made at www.beanfuneralhomes.com