Charles Harness

Charles Leonard Harness of North Newton, Kansas died Tuesday September 20, 2005, after a long illness. He led a full and happy life with a loving family and excellent career.

Mr. Harness was a retired patent attorney, a former resident of Maryland, and a member of the Maryland and District Columbia Bar Associations. He was also an honored science fiction author, having been nominated for numerous Hugo and Nebula awards, and having received the Science Fiction Writers of America "Writer of Distinction" award in 2004. His most famous works, "The Rose" and "The Paradox Men" received wide acclaim from the likes of Arthur C. Clarke and A.E. Van Vogt upon their publication in the early 1950s. He was frequently published in the likes of "Analog" and "Fantasy and Science Fiction" magazines, and has several works that will be published posthumously.

Mr. Harness was a born in Colorado City, Texas, in 1915, and later relocated to Ft. Worth. He attended Texas Christian University and later received a B.S and LL.B. degree from George Washington University in Washington D.C.. He practiced patent law for W.R. Grace and Co. in New York City and Washington D.C. until his retirement in 1981. He was also a member and former deacon of Christ Memorial Presbyterian Church in Columbia, Maryland.

Harness was preceded in death by a brother, Bryan Blandford Harness; a sister, Anna Byrd Harness Wallace; and his beloved wife, Nell White Harness. He is survived by a daughter and son-in-law, Shan and Sid Spain, of Charlottesville, Virginia; a son and daughter-in-law, Charles Bryan and Leah Harness, of Newton, Kansas; a granddaughter, Virginia E. Harness, of Newton, Kansas; a granddaughter and spouse, Shiloh and Jon Whitehead, of Charlottesville, Virginia; and a brother, Conrad Patrick Harness, of Houston Texas.

A private memorial service will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Kidron Bethel Retirement Village in North Newton, Kansas. To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Charles Harness please visit our Sympathy Store.