Obituary of Ronald Wayne Harp

Memories of Ron by Joanne Harp Ronald Wayne Harp, Jr., was born in Birmingham, Alabama in June 27, 1961. He was born and raised in Alabama until his Father, Ronald Harp, got a job with IBM in Vestry, New York. Then they moved to Fairfax, VA where he went to George Mason University from 1981 to 1984 studying Business. He got tired of studying Business in his fourth year so he decided to go into the United States Air Force. He was in the Air Force from January 31, 1984 to July 26, 1991. In the Air Force he worked on putting cable lines for the phone lines. He was stationed in Spain, Maine, and his last station was at the Pentagon in DC. He fell in love with Virginia. After the Air Force Ron worked as a Computer Help Desk Operator. First he worked with Booz Allen Hamilton, then General Dynamics, and Creative Dynamics. He would always say he was on the 10-year plan to get his degree. He was a Computer Software Engineer & Developer with BAE for about 13 years. Ron and I met at his parents’ house in August 1997. When I met Ron he was living in Laurel, MD. His parents chaperoned our first date because everything was running behind schedule and he wasn’t going to make it in time for our own date alone. Anyway, it was funny - here is this guy I never met except through talking over the phone and emailing for a couple of months after he found out I started calling his parents Mom and Pop. He wanted to know who, as he used to call me, "the Interloper" was. So when I got to the house I just walked into the house and said I’m here. They had a Yorkshire Terrier who I was not allergic to. She beat Ron to the door and I bent down to greet her. Then I saw two feet and looked up at this guy who owned the feet and I said “Oh, Hi. You must be Ron. You know I have to pet the dog first.” Ron is thinking “Oh boy, this is going to be fun.” I practically ignored him with his family around me. I stayed close to his mother and sister as well as well his brother. We all sat down and Ron kept bumping my shoulder trying to get my attention and he didn’t get it. Later that night after dinner we finally we did get to go out on our own. We went to the beach, to Atlantic Beach and listened to the music and had a great time. One problem. We lost the car, I blamed him and he blamed me. but at least I remembered which street it was on. So we sat on a bench and talked for hours. In October of 1997 we talked on the phone again and he said Joanne I wish you were here for the Renaissance Festival. So I bought a ticket and he met me at the airport with a Tuxedo and a red rose! We had so much fun. In November of 1997 I came back to see Ron just to cook him Thanksgiving Dinner. That is when he made the comment I don’t know if I should give you your Christmas present now or later. I said if you give me my Christmas present now, you will have to buy another Christmas present. Then he comes out with this big black teddy bear and a small box on Thanksgiving Day 1997 and proposed to me. I said “YES”. We were married in Boca Raton, Florida, at his parents’ house January 24, 1998. I was working at Hospice at the time and the Hospice Coordinator did our wedding. They did a beautiful job. Ron’s distant cousin married us and his Aunt played for us. It was a beautiful, simple, elegant and traditional wedding. After Ron and I got married we had the Harp Rules: 1) Do not argue in front of Children. 2) If you start to get angry go to another room or one of us would take a walk. Then come back and talk and pray to God and we forget what we argue about. 3) Never go to bed angry. Ron was a hardcore Redskins fan from the moment I met him. I am a hardcore Dolphins fan. Ron found this out after we watched our first football game together in September of 1998. I told Ron he owed me a quarter because the Dolphins had 7 points and the Redskins had zero points. He said, “Lady, it isn’t over with until the fat lady sings.” Ron said that Dad is going to be for the Redskins. I told him, “Honey, Dad is Dolphins Fan." During Half-time Ron called his Dad and Dad said “Boy, what are you talking about? I am a Dolphins fan; I’m rooting for the Dolphins not the Redskins." Ron said this isn’t fair two against one! Anyway, so we made a bet, whoever won the game got the $1.00. Guess who got the $1.00? You are right, I did. So every year whoever won whether it was the Redskins or the Dolphins we got our $1.00 pile. At the end of the season whoever had the most money was the winner. So, the winner takes the loser out to dinner, but the loser chooses the restaurant. Last year Ron won. He was so ecstatic. So, Ron asked if I am going to be a Redskins fan now with a big smile of his. I said “NO WAY! I am going to win this year! Laughing. And as always we both started laughing. Ron started doing DVD’s at the Church of the Epiphany, Anglican Church in Herndon, Virginia in May 2011 due to my health with the permission of Rev. Robin Rauh. Then Ron and Ralph Morris got together to start to figure a way out a to start an online live stream program for our Church for homebound, those overseas, traveling, etc. We did a test run for about three months with the Vestry’s permission. After that it slowly has taken off. Now the online streaming is used for our services on Sundays, Weddings, Funerals and other special occasions. I have known up to 20 to 25 people watch at one time. We had a Chaplain visit us from Germany one time. He thanked us for having the live-stream. Because, he said what happens, he pulls down the screen and about 100 soldiers watch at one time. Ron served on the Vestry for our Church from 2012 to 2015. He was the Junior Warden in 2013. He helped start the Benevolence Program to help people who needed assistance. Ron passed away on Wednesday, September 21, 2016 in Sterling, VA. Ron died by his own hand. I would suggest for our comfort please turn to Psalm 23. He is survived by his loving wife, Joanne Harp, as well as his parents, Ronald Wayne Harp and Betty Harp, His brother Jerry and his wife Catherine Harp, his niece, Jenda, and sister, D’Anne Harp and ‘adopted’ daughter Sabrina Klay.. A visitation will be on Thursday, September 29 from 5pm to 8pm at Church of the Epiphany, Anglican, 13515 Dulles Technology Drive, Suite 1, Herndon, VA 20171. The funeral services will be on Friday, September 30 at 10:00 am also at Church of the Epiphany. Guests are asked to refrain from wearing any scents during the visitation or funeral service due to severe allergies of family members. In lieu of flowers, please donate to Purple Heart Foundation or to The Disabled American Veterans. The Burial will be at Quantico National Cemetery at 2:00 pm. Thank You God for the time you allowed me to have with my darling, sweet husband - Ron. May God Bless Each and every one richly. Joanne Harp