Calvin Wesley “Wes” Harrison, III
1946-2022
Calvin Wesley Harrison III, age 76, passed away peacefully but very unexpectedly at home in Edmond, OK on November 12, 2022. Wes was born October 19, 1946 in Phoenix, AZ to Calvin Wesley Harrison II and Althea Harrison.
Wes is survived by wife, Glenna; daughter, Janean (David) Wright of Oklahoma City; son, Calvin Wesley Harrison IV of Edmond; grandsons, Harrison and Jackson Wright; brother, Joe (Carole) Harrison of Honey Brook, PA; and brother, Steve (Karen) Harrison of Luther, OK. He was preceded in death by his parents, brother, Andy Harrison, and sister-in-law, Rose Harrison.
Wes graduated from high school in Prescott, AZ and attended college at York College in York, NE, and Harding College in Searcy, AR. He went on to receive his Masters in Bible from Harding College Graduate School of Religion, studied at Heidelberg University in Germany, and earned his PhD in History from the University of Oregon.
He met Glenna Jane Logston at Harding College and they married in 1969 after graduating. Their passion for missions led to a shared life of teaching, ministering, and serving. Daughter Janean was born in 1972 and the family moved to Hannover, Germany to join a mission team with the Rivoires and Woodwards. Wesley was born in 1977 and the family spent nearly a decade in Germany in various mission works.
The family returned to the States in 1982, where Wes served as a professor of History and Bible for almost four decades at Columbia Christian College in Portland, OR; Alderson Broaddus University in Philippi, WV; and Ohio Valley University in Parkersburg, WV. He also served throughout the years as a youth minister, teacher, and preacher for several churches and took students on international mission trips to Korea, Honduras, Myanmar, and China.
After retiring in 2017, Wes and Glenna moved to Edmond in 2019 to be nearer to family. Even in retirement, Wes and Glenna continued their life of service with Wes teaching classes at Memorial Road Church of Christ and both being active in the international Bible class.
Wes was a loving and devoted husband and father, had a great sense of humor, and was known to all as a gentle and generous person. And he loved to tell stories, especially if they involved Wesley or Janean or his two grandkids, all of whom he adored. He was a passionate reader, studious, and a lifelong learner of languages, history, and the Bible. Most of all, Wes loved God and spent his life working to bring others to a knowledge of Jesus Christ.
In lieu of flowers, memorials can be sent to International Missions at Memorial Road Church of Christ, 2221 East Memorial Road, Edmond, Oklahoma 73013. Cards and notes can be sent to Glenna Harrison at 1620 Old English Road, Edmond, Oklahoma 73003.
A memorial service will be held at 10:00 a.m., Monday, November 21, 2022 at Memorial Road Church of Christ Edmond, OK. To live stream the service please click the following link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jkzN_RpzuaU