Ernestine Edwards Harris

Ernestine was the only child of Rose and Ernest Edwards and was raised in Bridgeton, NJ. In 1953, she married WWII veteran Wilmot Harris, Jr. and they moved to Philadelphia where they raised twin girls, Leslie and Patrice. The twins were born almost 3 months premature, were near 2 pounds, with Leslie being blind, mentally disabled, epileptic, and Pat needing glasses at 2 years old. Ernestine championed for Leslie’s functional progress by enrolling her in special educational programs until ultimately, Leslie was accepted into Elwyn’s residential program in 1995. Ernestine encouraged Patrice academically until she graduated from Swarthmore College.

When their daughters were of school age, Ernestine went back to work. After five years as a legal secretary to the managing partner of a major Philadelphia law firm, she went to work as a civilian employee working 30 years for the government, starting with the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) before moving, on her former HUD supervisor’s recommendation, to the newly formed Department of Energy.

Ernestine managed to work days, attend Temple University at night (major: Political Science), and take enough in-house courses to qualify for both Grants Manager and Contracting Officer. Both positions required Ernestine to travel to Washington, DC, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, and Harrisburg to meet with her state recipient managers of grant programs Ernestine was responsible for at the federal level. In 1990, Ernestine retired from her final job with the US Department of Energy.

Ernestine enjoyed archery in High School, geology in college (with boxes of rocks everywhere), dancing, and swimming. She loved to cook and had a library of international cookbooks. Ernestine was an avid reader – reading a book/week until her nineties. She also enjoyed going to the theater with friends.

Ernestine and Wilmot loved to vacation – family trips to the NJ shore, and later, trips to the Caribbean, Canada, Hawaii, AZ, VA, FL, NY and Jazz cruises.

In addition to her parents, she is preceded in death by her husband Wilmot Harris, Jr. Ernestine moved from Philadelphia to Blue Bell, PA shortly after her husband passed away on 17 April 2012.

Ernestine is survived by daughters Leslie Michele Harris and Patrice Harris Pompa, grandchildren Jaclyn Pompa (with Chris Bright) and Michael Pompa (with Taisha Von Tress), great-grandchildren Declan Bright, Victor Pompa, and Violet Pompa, many other family and friends.

Services are TBD and will be private at the request of the family.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Elwyn Institute - https://www.elwyn.org/support-elwyn

Arrangements by the Cremation Society of Pennsylvania at King of Prussia.