Warren Creighton Harmon

Warren Creighton Harmon, age 85 passed away in his home on March 6, 2018 surrounded by his family.

He is survived by his two daughters and a son-in-law; Sally & John Godfrey of Bryan & Amy Harmon of Santa Fe, Texas. He is also survived by three grandchildren & granddaughter-in-law; Richard Godfrey of San Antonio, Courtney & Russell Godfrey of St. Louis, MO & Mary Godfrey of Houston.

He is preceded in death by his wife Nancy Bower Harmon, his parents Warren & Odessa Harmon and his sister Leola Mae Harmon Swihart.

Warren was born in Circleville, Ohio on August 16, 1932. His lifelong passion of piloting & aviation was a family tradition. His first solo flight was on March 6, 1949 @ the age of 16. In 1954 he graduated from Ohio University & entered the US Air Force. Graduating in the USAF Cadet Class 55V in September, he spent the next three years as a flight instructor teaching cadets to fly in Big Spring, San Marcos & Houston with the rank of First Lieutenant. He remained active in the Air Force Reserves until 1970 earning the rank of Captain. On April 11, 1955 he married his high school sweetheart Nancy Lee Bower who was “the light of his life” as described in a letter written many years later to his granddaughter Mary. Nancy thought the experience of relocating from southern Ohio to Big Spring, Texas in 1955 was what “moving to the moon might be like”. However the young couple never thought of leaving Texas once they settled in.

Warren became Chief Pilot for Albritton Engineering Corporation of Bryan in 1958. At age 30, he received the “Million Miler” Safety Award for completing one million safe air miles while employed by ALENCO bringing his accumulated flying career at that time to over two million safe air miles & a rating of Airline Transport Pilot (equivalent to a Commercial Airline Captain). He piloted professionally & for pleasure the rest of his life & mentored numerous young people to achieve their wings as new pilots. He was also an active member of the Quiet Birdmen and a 50 year member of the Grand Lodge of Free & Accepted Masons of Ohio.

Warren & Nancy joined First United Methodist Church of Bryan & met many of their closest friends there. In the mid-1960s Warren’s entrepreneurial spirit led him into starting the Harmony Companies that was a home building & land development company. He developed Briarcrest Country Club which opened in 1971, several local subdivisions & commercial developments throughout Texas. He owned & operated an aircraft charter business for several years as well. Warren was a founding member & third President of the B/CS Homebuilders Association & attended the 50th reunion celebration last November. He was an active reserve deputy of the Brazos County Sheriff’s Department for many years. In 1983 he was appointed to the Texas Aeronautics Commission by Governor Mark White & served as Chairman & member. After 50+ years of flying his fellow pilot friends encouraged him to apply for the prestigious Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award. Finally he submitted his application with 3 letters of recommendation & flight records. The Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) formal review showed that Warren had met & surpassed the requirements. They granted the award to him with 60 consecutive years of safe pilot flight operations in 2010 at a ceremony held at Coulter Field in Bryan.

The family wishes to express our deep appreciation for his care givers from Comfort Keepers during the last 6 months especially Frances, Jesse & Odessie who he bonded with in a special way.

The family will receive friends on Thursday March 8th from 5:00-7:00 pm @ Hillier’s Funeral Home in Bryan.

Memorial services will be held on Friday March 9th at 1:00 pm at First United Methodist Church in Bryan. Interment will follow in the College Station City Cemetery.

Memorials may be made to the First United Methodist Church of Bryan, 506 E. 28th Street, Bryan, Texas 77803, the AOPA Foundation Flight Training Scholarship Program, AOPA, 421 Aviation Way, Frederick, Maryland 21701, or to Hospice Brazos Valley, 502 W. 26th St., Bryan, Texas 77803.