Dalton R. Harrison

Dalton Ray Harrison, Jr., 86, of Cary, NC peacefully passed away in his home on Sunday, July 9, 2023 surrounded by his family.
Dalton was born on September 26, 1936, to Rosa Leigh O’Daniel Harrison and Dalton Ray Harrison in Raleigh, NC. After graduating from Needham Broughton High School in 1954, Dalton enlisted in the US Air Force and was honorably discharged in 1959. He used the GI Bill to study and graduate from NCSU in 1963 earning a BS in Computer Science, the first in his family to receive a college education.
Dalton was introduced by Charles Russell, his high school best friend, to Linda Gale Eastep, the summer of 1957, only three weeks before he was transferred to Sidi Slimane Air Base in Morocco. He was love struck and spent the next year corresponding with this lovely lady almost weekly. Returning to the US, Dalton secretly brought an engagement ring home with him, hoping Linda would agree to be his bride. Dalton and Linda were married on August 27, 1960, in Raleigh. They loved to dance, enjoyed weekend BBQs with friends and worked hard, striving to provide a better life for their daughters.
Dalton spent his career working in the field of computer science, holding positions as a computer programmer for NCSU where he wrote the program that recorded and reported students’ semester grades. After working with Wake County for several years, he accepted a position with Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Durham, NC where he retired in 1998. Dalton was an excellent handyman, repairing just about anything in and outside the home. Weekends were often spent changing the oil and spark plugs of the family cars. He believed that borrowed items should be returned better than you found them, everything has its appropriate place and honesty is always the best policy. Dalton will be greatly missed by his wife, family, and friends.
Dalton was predeceased by his mother and father. He is survived by his wife, Linda; two daughters, Kimberly Harrison Herr of New Canaan, CT, (Raymond Scott Herr), and Melissa Harrison Hogan of Raleigh, NC; five grandchildren, Victoria Leigh Hogan of Raleigh, NC, Daniel Harrison Herr of Nashville, TN, Christopher John Herr of Portland, OR; Rebecca Lynn Herr of New Canaan, CT; and Matthew Scott Herr of Paris, France.
In lieu of flowers donations can be made to Transitions Life Care, 250 Hospice Circle, Raleigh, NC 27607.
A celebration of life and reception will be held at the Kirk of Kildaire Presbyterian Church, 200 High Meadow Drive, Cary, NC on Monday, July 24th at 2:00pm.