William Harsh

William H. Harsh, 84, a retired Hilliard High School Industrial Arts teacher from 1951 to 1984, died August 8 at Sunrise on the Scioto Assisted Living in Upper Arlington. He was born August 22, 1925 to the late Harry M. Harsh and Elva Stewart Harsh Vogel in Hadley, PA. His father died when he was 6 years old and when he was 12 years old, his mother married Joseph C. Vogel. He is also predeceased by his sisters Doris Harsh Williams and Alice Harsh Snyder; and his stepbrother Joseph Vogel. His wife of 32 years, Lois Cool Harsh died in 1984. Mr. Harsh was a 1943 graduate of Brookfield (OH) High School. After Army service at Fort Leavenworth, KS during World War II, he attended the Ohio State University, graduating in 1951 with a degree in Industrial Arts Education. His entire professional teaching career was spent at Hilliard where he taught Industrial Arts and was the department chairman for many years. He advised several student clubs including the dance club, photo club, and student council. His extracurricular activities ranged from driving a school bus and photographing football games to building props for the school plays and repairing wooden items for the school. Mr. Harsh served as president of the Scioto Darby Education Association, receiving their Distinguished Service Award in 1977 and held numerous positions with the Ohio Education Association and National Education Association. He earned his Masters Degree in Education in 1977 from OSU. In the summers from approximately 1953 to 1971, he worked with the Ohio State University Architects Office as a draftsman. Mr. Harsh was a charter member of Scioto Ridge United Methodist Church, building liturgical furnishings for the church throughout the years, including a baptismal font, service table, candle stands and a lectern. His other memberships included the Central Ohio Woodturners Association and Woodworkers of Central Ohio.
He used his creative talents to serve others. Two examples in recent years are the donation of wooden toy vehicles to a children’s charity and chair risers to the Central Ohio Arthritis Foundation. Survivors include his loving wife of 13 years, V. Eileen Miller Summers Harsh; two children, Leah Harsh (David) Kalasky of Alexandria, VA and Dana (Kim) Harsh of Piketon, OH; two stepchildren, Carole (Summers) Hulsebos of San Francisco, CA and Mark Summers (Debbie) of Springfield, OH and three grandchildren: Natalie Kalasky, Jordan Kalasky, and Hanna Harsh; and a step-grandson, Jeremiah Summers. Family will receive friends 4-8 pm Thursday at the TIDD FUNERAL HOME, 5265 Norwich St., Hilliard, OH 43026. Funeral service will be held 10 am Friday at Scioto Ridge United Methodist Church, 4343 Dublin Rd., Hilliard, OH 43026. Interment Wesley Chapel Cemetery. In honor of Mr. Harsh, in lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Hilliard Education Foundation, 5323 Cemetery Rd.., Hilliard, OH 43026.