Kenneth H. Harrison 82, passed away on May 8, 2023, due to complications of Alzheimer's.

Ken was born in Stoke-on-Trent, England, at the end of 1940. Because Ken's father served in the Royal Air Force, Ken had vivid childhood memories of his family's posting to the RAF base at Habbaniya, Iraq in 1948. They sailed out on the steamship Franconia to Suez, then by bus to Baghdad, returning to England 18 months later on the S.S. Empress of Australia. When he returned to England, Ken studied hard to catch up with the other students. He excelled in chemistry and math, graduating from Longton High School in 1957. He completed a combined academic and technical apprenticeship in Ceramics at North Staffordshire Technical College in 1964.

Mr. Harrison began his career with Norton Chemical Process Products in 1964. Ken transferred from Stoke-on-Trent to the U.S. operation in Stow Ohio in 1978. Colleagues at work respected Ken's technical competence and his straightforward manner. He retired from the position of Manager, Quality and Training, in 1999 after 35 years of service with Norton.

In Hudson, Ken was also proprietor of the popular toy store, Land of Make Believe. For 33 years, he coached Youth Soccer teams including the Stow Spitfires and Hudson-based teams. Neighbors near Ritchie Road used to visit back-and-forth with Ken, Val and the children. Ken was an avid runner, active in the Crooked River Trail Runners and completing the Akron Marathon six times.

Kenneth was preceded in death by his wife Valerie, who was Ken's high school sweetheart. They were married for 38 years. Ken's survivors in America include sons, Richard and Robert; grandchildren, Abrielle, Justin, Oliver, and Elisabeth; and in England brother Geoffrey and niece Jane,. Ken is also sorely missed by his good friends, Terrie Kisha and Mike O'Donnell.

Calling hours will be on Sunday from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Dunn-Quigley Stow Chapel (3333 Kent Rd. at Rt, 91) where funeral services will take place at 11:00 a.m. Monday. Interment will follow at Silver Springs Cemetery.