Richard & Mary J. Raines Harr Fund
TYPE OF FUND: Designated DATE ESTABLISHED: 2002
PURPOSE: To provide funding for the Buena Chapel United Methodist Church in Canaan Valley.
DISTRIBUTION: Upon request by the trustees of the church, and upon the recommendation of the Grants Committee and approval by the Board of Directors of TCF.
VARIANCE POWER: If, in the judgment of the TCF Board of Directors, the restrictions and conditions of the fund become unnecessary, incapable of fulfillment or inconsistent with the charitable needs of the community, the TCF Board of Directors maintains the right to modify the terms of this fund.
FUNDING: Initial donation of $5,000.00 from Richard and Mary J. Raines Harr.
Approved by the Board of Directors Jan. 10, 2002.
BACKGROUND: Richard Milton Harr was born in Canaan Valley on April 14, 1924, a son of James Merick and Idella Harr. Mary Jocelyn Raines Harr was born at Flanagan Hill on April 10, 1917, a daughter of Dow and Carrie Raines. Richard and Mary were married March 3, 1943 at Oakland, MD. They are the parents of Barbara Harr Alford, Lloyd Carl Harr, Phyllis Elaine Garcia and James Milton Harr. They have seven grandchildren, James and Mark Alford, Jason, Nathan and Wesley Garcia and Sarah and Osman Harr, and one great grandchild, Richard James Alford.
Shortly after their marriage, Richard was sent overseas and served in the European Theatre of Operation during WWII. Following discharge, he and Mary moved onto the Harr farm in Canaan. In addition to farming, Richard was a school bus driver for 28 years and did carpentry work several more years. Mary spent her years as a devoted homemaker and mother.
Richard and Mary became members of Buena Chapel in l957. Richard was elected superintendent in l964 and held this position until 1997. He has taught the adult Sunday School Class for over 40 years and rarely missed a Sunday. Mary was financial secretary of the church from l966 until health issues prevailed in her senior years. Their loving devotion to Beuna Chapel serves as the inspiration for the creation of this fund and it is their fondest hope that the church will thrive and prosper long into the future.
Richard has been very community and service oriented through the years. He was president of the Tucker County School Service Personnel Assoc. for 16 years. Under his leadership many gains and improvements were implemented in the area of pension and health insurance for school service personnel. He served as President of the Tucker County Parks & Recreation Committee for 6 years and as President of the Flanagan Hill Senior Citizens Outpost for many years. He is past grand master of Davis Odd Fellows Lodge 103 and was district deputy grand master for 16 years. Mary passed away in 2003. Richard currently resides on Cortland Road in Canaan Valley where they have lived since the family farm was transferred to Canaan Valley State Park in 1966.