Deborah Elaine (Kellis) Harsha
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Deborah Elaine (Kellis) Harsha, 74, of Hillsboro, passed away Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2022 at St. Elizabeth’s Hospice Center in Edgewood, Ky. with family by her side.
She was born June 13, 1948 in Hillsboro, the daughter of the late Charles Rodney Kellis and Martha Jane (Fling) Kellis.
Mrs. Harsha was a 1966 graduate of Hillsboro High School. “Deb” or “Debbie” attended Ohio State University before returning to Hillsboro and getting married to Charles “Sandy” Harsha on June 7, 1968.
She was a constant presence and advocate for her community. She helped manage the Harsha Monument Company with her father-in-law, Charles; husband, Sandy; and son, Justin, from 1983 to 2020, and she served as manager of the Hillsboro Cemetery Association during that same period. She was heavily involved in an effort to improve the uptown of Hillsboro by promoting and assisting property owners to improve and paint their building(s) with period Williamsburg-like colors.
She served as council member and President of the Ohio Valley Resource Conservation and Development (RC&D) Council for several years, championing multiple local projects including the Highland County Family YMCA. She was instrumental in the founding, fundraising and development of the FACT (now Liberty) Park. She also helped her husband Sandy with the Scott House Restoration Committee in the early 1990s.
She is survived by three children, Jared (Barb) Harsha of Raleigh, N.C., C. Justin (Sarah) Harsha of Hillsboro and Megan (Dr. Faisal) Khatri of Cincinnati; 12 grandchildren, Gavin and Mallory Harsha, Reed, Jenna and Laylah Harsha, Guyton Carroll and Zayd, Layth, Safiya, Sayf, Qays and Yasmeen Khatri; one brother, John (Carolyn) Kellis of Hillsboro; two nephews, Joshua (Bobbie Joe) Kellis and J.D. (Megan) Wagoner, both of Hillsboro; one niece, Ali (Andy) Ferguson of Key West, Fla.; and brother-in-law, Doug Wagoner of Hillsboro.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Charles S. Harsha; parents, Charles Rodney and Martha Jane Kellis; in-laws, Charles and Inez Harsha; nephew, Christopher Ryan Kellis; sister-in-law, Susie (Harsha) Wagoner; and second husband, William E. “Bill” Fling.
Family and friends are invited to attend a visitation Friday, Oct. 14 from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. at the Rhoads-Edgington Funeral Home in Hillsboro. Funeral services will be held immediately following visitation. The family will conduct a private burial service in the Hillsboro Cemetery after the funeral.
In lieu of flowers, Deb requested memorial contributions be made to the Hillsboro Cemetery Association at P.O. Box 8, Hillsboro, Ohio 45133; the Highland County Family YMCA at 201 Diamond Drive, Hillsboro; and/or the Hillsboro Public Library at 10 Willettsville Pike, Hillsboro.
For more information or to send condolences to the family, please visit www.edgingtonfuneralhomes.com.
She was born June 13, 1948 in Hillsboro, the daughter of the late Charles Rodney Kellis and Martha Jane (Fling) Kellis.
Mrs. Harsha was a 1966 graduate of Hillsboro High School. “Deb” or “Debbie” attended Ohio State University before returning to Hillsboro and getting married to Charles “Sandy” Harsha on June 7, 1968.
She was a constant presence and advocate for her community. She helped manage the Harsha Monument Company with her father-in-law, Charles; husband, Sandy; and son, Justin, from 1983 to 2020, and she served as manager of the Hillsboro Cemetery Association during that same period. She was heavily involved in an effort to improve the uptown of Hillsboro by promoting and assisting property owners to improve and paint their building(s) with period Williamsburg-like colors.
She served as council member and President of the Ohio Valley Resource Conservation and Development (RC&D) Council for several years, championing multiple local projects including the Highland County Family YMCA. She was instrumental in the founding, fundraising and development of the FACT (now Liberty) Park. She also helped her husband Sandy with the Scott House Restoration Committee in the early 1990s.
She is survived by three children, Jared (Barb) Harsha of Raleigh, N.C., C. Justin (Sarah) Harsha of Hillsboro and Megan (Dr. Faisal) Khatri of Cincinnati; 12 grandchildren, Gavin and Mallory Harsha, Reed, Jenna and Laylah Harsha, Guyton Carroll and Zayd, Layth, Safiya, Sayf, Qays and Yasmeen Khatri; one brother, John (Carolyn) Kellis of Hillsboro; two nephews, Joshua (Bobbie Joe) Kellis and J.D. (Megan) Wagoner, both of Hillsboro; one niece, Ali (Andy) Ferguson of Key West, Fla.; and brother-in-law, Doug Wagoner of Hillsboro.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Charles S. Harsha; parents, Charles Rodney and Martha Jane Kellis; in-laws, Charles and Inez Harsha; nephew, Christopher Ryan Kellis; sister-in-law, Susie (Harsha) Wagoner; and second husband, William E. “Bill” Fling.
Family and friends are invited to attend a visitation Friday, Oct. 14 from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. at the Rhoads-Edgington Funeral Home in Hillsboro. Funeral services will be held immediately following visitation. The family will conduct a private burial service in the Hillsboro Cemetery after the funeral.
In lieu of flowers, Deb requested memorial contributions be made to the Hillsboro Cemetery Association at P.O. Box 8, Hillsboro, Ohio 45133; the Highland County Family YMCA at 201 Diamond Drive, Hillsboro; and/or the Hillsboro Public Library at 10 Willettsville Pike, Hillsboro.
For more information or to send condolences to the family, please visit www.edgingtonfuneralhomes.com.