Dr. Horace David Harlan, 94, of Lake Charles, La., passed away at 5:30 a.m. on Thursday, March 9, 2023, in a local care facility.
Dr. Harlan was born Fe. 9, 1929, in Bee Caves, Texas, and raised in Austin, Texas. He was a 1946 graduate of Vidor High School and graduated from the University of Texas in 1950 with his BS in Chemistry. David served as a medic in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. After his honorable release, he earned his MS in Chemistry from Southwest Texas State University in San Marcos and his Ph.D in Organic Chemistry from Baylor University. During his forty-year teaching career, he taught Organic Chemistry at San Antonio College, Southwest Texas State University, and Baylor University. He retired in 1994, after over twenty years as the Department Chair at Angelo State University. In 2009, he and his wife moved to Lake Charles, La., to be closer to family. He was a member of Our Lady Queen of Heaven Catholic Church and Knights of Columbus with the Westlake Chapter and previously in Texas. He was a longtime recipient of research grants from the Robert A. Welch Foundation. He was also an active member of the Texas Academy of Science, American Chemical Society, and the ASU Moon Lectures. From a very young age, Dr. Harlan was an enthusiastic golfer and shot his age at 72. He also enjoyed backpacking, was an avid birder and a voracious reader. He will always be remembered for his puns and wise cracks.
Dr. Harlan is survived by his loving wife of 67 years, Merritte Willene Lockhart Harlan; sons, William Stephen Harlan (Rong Zhou) of Denver, Colo., and John Clark Harlan (Deborah Kay) of Leander, Texas; daughter, Beverly Harlan Jones (Lynn) of Lake Charles; grandchildren, Anthony “Tony” Harlan Ecker (Laura), Grant Ashburn Jones, Lillian Marie Harlan (Dean Egan), Jacob David Ecker (Lorraine Baer), Philip Randall Harlan, and Merritt Gloria Jones; and great-grandchildren, Easton, Jaxon, and Isla Marie.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Steve and Emily Harlan; six brothers; and one sister.
His funeral service will be held at 3 p.m. on Monday, March 13, 2023, at Our Lady Queen of Heaven Catholic Church. Monsignor Daniel Torres will officiate. Burial will follow in Consolata Cemetery. Visitation will be at Johnson Funeral Home on Monday from 1 p.m. to 2:45 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory can be made to any local nonprofit food assistance program.
The family would like to express a special word of thanks to the doctors and nurses at St. Patrick Hospital, staff at Harbor Hospice and their friends and family at Villa Maria for the excellent love and care given.
Words of comfort to the family may be expressed at www.johnsonfuneral home.net.