Carrol Dean Harris

June 25, 1944 - Feb. 17, 2016

SOUTH BEND - Carrol Dean Harris, 71, of Venice, FL, formerly of South Bend, passed away very unexpectedly Wednesday at Venice Regional Medical Center after suffering an apparent heart attack.

Born in Radford, VA on June 25, 1944 to the late Robert Harris, Sr. and Wilma (Turner) Harris, Dean spent most of his life in South Bend, IN. He was a 1963 graduate of John Adams High School and he had attended Indiana University-South Bend. He married his high school sweetheart and love of his life, Pamela Elizabeth Barrett on August 27, 1966. Dean had a long career, 29 years, first as a delivery driver, then an over the road driver with United Parcel Service before retiring in 2002. Not one to sit at home, Dean took a job with the United States Postal Service in the Motor Vehicle Service as a driver. He would have retired next month after his ten years of service and was planning to move back to South Bend. Dean served during the Vietnam War in the United States Air Force as an Encryptment Specialist, encrypting messages.

Mr. Harris loved watching Notre Dame football games, camping at Warren Dunes State Park in Michigan, visiting Disney World (where the family had season passes) and vacationing in the Florida Keys. He never liked to stay home and was always planning on what to do and where to go on his days off. Dean enjoyed playing golf. Mostly, he loved camping and spending time with his beloved wife and daughters. A born again Christian, he had attended several churches over his adult lifetime including First Baptist Church in Mishawaka, Trinity, and Calvary Baptist.

Dean and Pam had three daughters: Elizabeth (Greg) Schoff, Patricia Harris and Deana Marie Harris. Also left to cherish his memory are their grandchildren: Gregory Dean, Tabitha Ann, Zoey Lynn and Shawn Ray, sister-in-law, Kathy (Richard) Schlect and brother-in-law, Nick (Teri) Barrett. Dean will be loved and missed by numerous nieces and nephews. Two siblings preceded him in death: Robert Harris II and Beverly.

Cremation is being cared for by McGann Hay Funerals -- Cremations -- Gatherings, South Bend. A memorial service is being planned for later this summer in South Bend and his ashes will be interred in Highland Cemetery, near family.

In Dean's memory, memorial contributions may be sent in lieu of flowers to the charity of the donor's choice . To send condolences to the family log on to: www.McGannHay.com. - See more at: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/southbendtribune/obituary.aspx?n=c-dean-harris&pid=177791927&fhid=8594&eid=sp_ommatch#sthash.4FzZpqkP.dpuf