Thomas W. Harrison, Hermitage, passed away at 4 a.m. Saturday (11-13-10) in UPMC Montefiore Hospital, Pittsburgh, after a brief illness. He was 77.

Mr. Harrison was born April 4, 1933 in Grove City, PA a son of the late Rolland and Eleanor Brennan Harrison.

He was a 1951 graduate of the former Stoneboro High School.

Following high school, Tom began working as a coil winder at the former Sharon Transformer Division of the Westinghouse Electric Corporation and shortly thereafter began a machinist apprenticeship. This internship was interrupted when he was drafted into the US Army and sent to Germany. Upon his return to the states and civilian life he completed his apprenticeship. Tom retired in January of 1996 from the former Sawhill Tubular Products-Division of Cyclops where he was employed as a journeyman machinist for 31 years.

He married the former Helen Mae Pierce on June 12, 1954 and together they shared 59 years of marriage. Tom and his wife traveled extensively in their motor home and were members of the GMAC Family Motor Coach Association. For many years they wintered in Florida at the Disney Fort Wilderness Resort where they met many wonderful friends. Tom was an enthusiastic admirer of Walt Disney World, particularly Mickey Mouse, and often joked that he was on the emergency snow removal team. He loved the Disney 'experience' and enjoyed sharing it with his family, particularly with his grandchildren. He and his wife took their entire family on a Disney Caribbean cruise for their 50th wedding anniversary celebration. Tom also enjoyed attending his grandchildren's sporting events and other extra curricular activities and was an avid Pittsburgh Pirate and Steelers fan.

Surviving are: his wife Helen at home; two sons, David T. Harrison and his wife Ellen, Greenville; and Gary M. Harrison and his wife Keenie, Shenango Twp.; nine grandchildren, Sarah, Zackary and Holly Harrison; Justin Zilke and his wife Maggie; Bradley Zilke; Andrew Johnson; Victoria and Trevor Harrison; and Katie Thompson; a great grandson, Adam Zilke; three sisters-in-law, Mercedes Harrison, Albuquerque, NM; Rosella Harrison, Hermitage; and Cynthia Carrara, Anita, PA; a brother-in-law, Paul A. Pierce and his wife Nancy, Greenville, PA; and aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews.

Besides his parents, Tom was preceded in death by two brothers, Robert B. Harrison, formerly of Mercer; and John R. Harrison, formerly of Albuquerque; and a brother-in-law, Ray W. Pierce, formerly of Sheakleyville.

The family suggests memorial contributions be made to a charity of the donor's choice.

Calling hours will be from 6-8 p.m. Tuesday (11-16-10) in J. Bradley McGonigle Funeral Home and Crematory, Inc., 1090 E. State St., Sharon.

Friends may email condolences by visiting www.McGonigleFuneralHomeandCrematory.com.

Funeral service will be 8 p.m. Tuesday in the funeral home.

Interment: Oak Hill Cemetery, Sandy Lake Twp., PA.