Richard R. Harp

May 30, 1926 - April 13, 2020

Richard "Dick" Ray Harp, age 93, husband of Anna "Anne" M. (Buski) Harp, of Phoenixville, Pennsylvania, died at 4:47 PM on April 13, 2020 at Phoenixville Hospital, comforted by his son, following a five day struggle with sepsis, brought on by a bacterial infection in his gallbladder and urinary tract. Born on May 30, 1926 in Eddystone, Pennsylvania, he was the son of the late John Jacob Harp, Sr. and Olive Beryl (Sterling) Harp. His family moved to Royersford, Pennsylvania in 1928. Dick attended Royersford High School, where he was a standout football player. He enlisted in the Army Air Forces in his senior year, and was called to active duty upon graduation in June, 1944. Based mainly in Florida, his duties included patrolling the coast and towing bomber targets, until he was honorably discharged in November, 1945. He received an associate and bachelor's degree in business administration from Ursinus College, as well as certification in physical metallurgy from the Technical Institute at Temple University. He was also a past president of the International Management Council of Phoenixville and Vicinity. Dick worked at Cann and Saul Steel Co., Inc. in Royersford for 18 years, and was a cost accountant when he left in 1964. He was president of Harp Machine and Tool Co., Inc. in Spring City, a precision machining business he founded in 1967, and then sold after years of successful operation. Dick also held administrative and management positions at other businesses in the local area during his career, including Carsi Co., Danco Tool and Mold Co., A.C. Miller Concrete Products, and Phoenixville Newspapers. His hobbies in earlier years were photography and flying. Dick was a licensed pilot and former member of the Pottstown Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association. He also enjoyed taking trips with his family to visit different areas of the United States. Dick liked to go to car shows, air shows, and similar events. He was also interested in his family's genealogy. In his later years, he spent a lot of time with his son, Jeff. They collaborated on many interesting projects and worked on the house and yard together. More recently, he always looked forward to riding in the car with Jeff to run errands, or just get out of the house to enjoy a scenic drive somewhere. In addition to his wife, Dick is survived by his son, R. Jeffrey "Jeff" Harp of Phoenixville, Pennsylvania. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his siblings, John J. Harp, Jr., Charles E. Harp, and Virginia E. Gumpert. Dick chose to be cremated. Due to the current COVID-19 pandemic, a memorial service and reception will be held at a future date, as soon as conditions allow. If you wish to attend, please make sure Jeff knows how to contact you. He can be reached at 610-933-0557. Interment will be private, at the convenience of the family. In lieu of sending flowers or gifts to the family, please donate to the Sepsis Alliance fundraiser started in Dick's honor at https://donate.sepsis.org/richard_harp. Arrangements are being handled by the Campbell - Ennis - Klotzbach Funeral Home, Inc., Phoenixville, PA.