James Richard Harrison's Obituary
James Richard Harrison Sr., 83, from Lucketts, Virginia passed away surrounded by his family
on Thursday, December 19, 2024, at Virginia Hospital Center in Arlington, Virginia.
Richard has left behind his beloved wife Lila Joyce Harrison; loving father to son James Richard
Harrison (Ricky) Jr., daughter Theresa Ann Harrison; youngest daughter Jacqueline Marie
Duffner (Harrison); and adopted grandson Timothy Michael Dickinson. Son of the late
Clarence H. Harrison and the late Catherine Varano Harrison. Brother to Anne Marie Varano,
JoAnn Harrison, Junior Harrison, Bobbie Harrison and the late Mark Harrison. Richard also
leaves a family legacy of 7 grandchildren and 7 great grandchildren along with many other
family and friends.
Richard was the loving husband of Lila Joyce Harrison. The two met in Arlington, VA Wakefield
High School where Richard ran track and was a gifted architectural student. They were
introduced by Joyce’s brother Johnnie Adams “Buddy” and it was young love at first sight.
Inseparable, the two insisted on leaving school to begin their 67 year marriage growing together
holy matrimony that began on September 12, 1956 at the young age at 16. The couple faced
many turbulent societal changes and economic hardships in their years together. As a young
couple they experienced both the cinching of the belt rationing years as well as the excess
growth throughout the political change of 14 Presidents, 5 wars and 10 US Interventions.
Hardships only glorified and strengthened their marital resolve.
Richard was a member of the Harrison family of Virginia. Genealogists indicate that the first
Harrisons were Viking warriors of Norse origin, arriving in northeast England with Cnut the
Great. Richards ancestors include Founding Father Benjamin Harrison V, 9th President William
Henry Harrison, 16th President of the US, Abraham Lincoln and the 23rd President Benjamin
Harrison.
Never leaving Northern Virginia, Richard built four family homes over his lifespan. He was
happiest in the country and flourished working the land of the life they built together. He loved
Ashburn in the 1960’s-1980 when it was long gravel roads, Partlow Bros general store sold
penny candy and his children went to four room single brick school. He moved his family out to
Lucketts in the mid 80’s when the early tech sector influx started developing Ashburn. He would
tell others those Lucketts country roads took his heart home.
When the land wasn’t getting his nails dirty, oil and grease were. One could say he was
somewhat of a tinkerer with a need for speed. At an early age the young family would be
packed into the RV with race car haulers in tow to often be found at local raceways. An
adventure was around every corner with Richard’s great passion and proclivity for race cars,
nascar and later in life showing his 3 prized antique vehicles. He was quoted on the show
Dream Rides telling the interviewer that he surprised Joyce with a anniversary present one year
by stating “I gotta have it” on the purchase of his Torch Red custom pinstripe 1939 Chevy
Sedan (he’d say Sea-Dan). He loved showing his cars but his real pride was being able to talk
to every person at every car meetup about the uniqueness of cars they just don’t build anymore.
Richard was a man of boundless positivity, love and compassion. He spent twenty years
coaching little league baseball for the Waxpool Mustangs, Lucketts Hornets and the Central
Loudoun County Allstars teams. The Waxpool Mustangs were the first Loudoun County team
to have four female players on the roster. They also went to State that year under his pitching
direction. Richard had a natural knack for scouting out great pitchers and developing their
ability even further. Those players on teams he coached would even today convey his never
quit mentality.
His loved ones were truly the pride and joy of his life. His giving nature and care extended far
and wide to those with whom he built close ties. His door was always open, he’d give you the
shirt off his back and he did not know a stranger. In this last year on one trip to his favorite
VHC hospital a homeless man asked for money and even though he wasn’t well in the moment
he insisted on pulling over to give the man something saying “you never know that might be me
one day.”
Those fortunate enough to know Richard would say family was everything to him
and an empty house was an empty heart. Richard and Joyce were one another’s lifelong
morning kiss. Together they created treasured bonds that filled the home with country music,
dance, board games, plenty of Christmas pranks and family rituals that will forever be graced in
the Harrison Household. They shared a great love and respect for one another and were often
heard whispering late night fears, hopes and dreams from the family bed.
Richard spent his formative years developing his artistically creative side. He was a hard
worker six days a week and on Sundays he would take rest at home with family. He was
however, a stranger to rest and would always be found doing busy work, moving, going
humming, singing never letting grass grow under his feet.
He began his career in Reston at US geological survey as a junior architect drawing topography
maps. A few years later he found his true calling as a craftsperson rendering architectural
drawings and developing his skillset as a tile, mosaic and fossil expert at Weller Tile & Mosaic of
Ashburn VA . Richard worked alongside the Weller family his entire life until the shop doors
closed. His great works will forever live on and can be found in the mosaics of the White House
swimming pool, Broad Run High Schools Spartan head, every Loudoun County Library Fossil
Wall installation and so many local homes and farms. His works have graced local magazines,
national news articles, Southern Living and even Playboy magazine. His perfection was evident
in every single installation.
The family welcome everyone with a visitation that will be held on Thursday, December 26,
2024, from 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM at Loudoun Funeral Chapel in Leesburg, VA.
Service will take place on Friday, December 27, 2024, at 12:30 PM at Loudoun Funeral Chapel
in Leesburg, VA.
James will be laid to rest at Leesburg Union Cemetery.
In Lieu of flowers, please make memorial donations to the LUNG association in honor of James.
Online condolences may be made to the family at www.loudounfuneralchapel.com
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