Frederick E. "Ted" Harris III's Obituary
Frederick E. (Ted) Harris III passed away in Ann Arbor, Michigan on Tuesday, January 14th, 2025 surrounded by his loving family.
Ted was born in 1940 to Frederick & Margaret Harris of Grosse Pointe. He attended Country Day Elementary, Parcells Jr High and Grosse Pointe South High School where he established many wonderful friendships he held close throughout his life.
In 1958 Ted enrolled in the Citadel Military College of South Carolina, a decision that changed the trajectory of his life and profoundly shaped him as a man.
Ted had an outstanding cadet career at the Citadel. He proudly served as the Commander of the Fourth Battalion, Chairman of the Cadet Advisory Committee, President of The Round Table, and member of the Presidential Advisory Committee and Summeral Guards. He was recipient of The Carlisle Norwood Hastie Award as the cadet having shown the most tact, consideration and courtesy to his fellow students. Ted also received the Army ROTC Meritorious Leadership Award and was selected as the "Best Senior Officer” during his fourth year.
After graduation from The Citadel, Ted went to the Armor School and then into the Ist Infantry Division at Fort Riley, Kan. The second of his two years of active duty was spent with the 1st Cavalry Division in Korea where he served as aide-de-camp to Brig. Gen. William J. McCaffrey, who continued to be a dear friend and mentor throughout Ted’s life.
Ted Harris married his high school sweetheart Beverly Smith in 1964 after he returned to Grosse Pointe from duty in Korea. He was a devoted and doting husband, after more than 61 years of marriage he still introduced her to others as “ my lovely bride”. The two raised three children together and were an inspiring example of love and service in their family, church and community.
In 1970 Ted established Fred Harris and Associates, a manufacturers’ representative agency named after his father. For nearly 40 years he ran the company that he so dearly loved. His coworkers and customers became like family and he cared for them deeply and spoke to them frequently even in his final years.
Throughout his life Ted enjoyed golf and yearly trips with family and friends. After raising their children in Grosse Pointe, Ted and Bev moved to their home on the St Clair River where they continued their legacy of kindness and care raising two of their grandchildren; Noah and Papillon. At the house on the river, Ted spent quality time with his grandchildren, fishing, sharing meaningful stories, giving invaluable advice and watching the freighters go by.
Throughout his life Ted remained an active alumnus of the Citadel. In 1972 he was hand selected by General Mark W Clark to become the youngest member of the Board of Directors for the Citadel Development Foundation. He stayed active in the foundation and later served as the Chairman of the Board as well as the Chairman of the Foundation’s Executive Committee for many years. Ted treasured his trips to Charleston and in 2023 attended his last homecoming weekend there with his citadel roommate friends and wives.
Ted was a man of faith who devoted much of his time to service, church, and prayer. In the last year of his life he was still attending church and meeting weekly for bible study, and he made it his mission to bring God into the lives of others. His bible was always seen filled with bookmarks and notes of the scriptures he found so inspiring.
Ted Harris is survived by his wife Beverly; his daughter Amy and his son David (Melissa) , his sister Wendy Barhydt, grandchildren Brittany (Branden), Noah (Priscilla), Papillon, Toben, Alexandra, Cameron and Maya and his great grandchildren Isabella, Jackson and Ruby. He is preceded in death by his daughter Anne who has welcomed him into heaven with open arms.
His friends and loved ones will forever cherish his memory and honor his legacy of kindness, integrity, and love.
A memorial service will be held at 12:00 p.m. on Friday, February 28 at Young Funeral Home, China Twp. Visiting will be from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. prior to the service.
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