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William R. Harring Jr.

Camden Firefighter, 1948–1981

William R. Harring Jr.

Portrait of William R. Harring Jr.

William R. Harring Jr.

William R. Harring Jr. in Camden Fire Department uniform

William R. Harring Jr., Camden Fire Department

WILLIAM R. HARRING JR. entered this world on September 5, 1920, the second child born to Ida May and William R. Harring in Camden, New Jersey. His father, who had a long and distinguished career with the Camden Fire Department, had joined the department at some point between June 5, 1917 and the date of the 1920 Census enumeration. Great-uncle Samuel E. Harring also served with the Fire Department, from the 1900s into the early 1930s.

In January of 1920 the Harrings and older son Quentin lived in North Camden at 130 Main Street, the home of Ida May’s parents, Walter and Alice Banks. By 1924 the Harrings had moved to 812 North Front Street, a stone’s throw from their previous residence. Sadly, it appears that Ida May Harring had passed away by 1926. William Harring Sr. remarried in 1926; second wife Marie Wade was 18 at the time. The Harrings continued to reside at 812 North Front Street through at least the spring of 1942. William Harring Sr. reached the rank of Deputy Chief by the time his career ended.

William Harring Jr. was appointed to the Camden Fire Department on March 2, 1948. He reported for duty the following day.

By 1956 William R. Harring Jr. and his wife, the former Josephine Simpson, were living in Cramer Hill at 797 North 30th Street. He retired from the Camden Fire Department on July 1, 1981.

A lifelong Camden resident, William Harring Jr. passed away on July 31, 1990. He was survived by his wife and sons William R. Harring III and Robert Harring. The Harring family was still at 797 North 30th Street as late as 2002. Josephine Harring joined her husband in November of 2005.

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Camden Fire Department — Fire Watch Magazine, Spring 1977

In Recognition… Members listed below have anniversary dates which fall during the first quarter.

Member Years Member Years Member Years
Dep. Chf. Anthony C. Saponare 35 Years
Batt. Chf. Robert E. Dukes 30 Years Insp. Fr. George C. Hennessy #21 30 Years Dep. Chf. Daniel F. Jiannetto 30 Years
Dep. Chf. Theodore L. Primas 30 Years
Fr. Eugene F. Alston #7 29 Years Batt. Chf. Biaggio P. Ardire 29 Years Fr. William R. Harring #69 29 Years
Fr. William E. Hinch #151 29 Years
Capt. Herbert J. Schott 28 Years
Batt. Chf. Charles A. Bates 26 Years Fr. Howard G. Brickner #5 26 Years Fr. Harvey J. Fisher #186 26 Years
Fr. Andrew H. Foreman #183 26 Years Fr. Henry S. Keubler #34 26 Years Fr. Joseph J. Lesniewski #50 26 Years
Fr. Phillip MacDonald #7(1 26 Years Batt. Chf. John J. Mogck 26 Years Capt. John E. Moore 26 Years
Capt. Robert P. Olesiewicz 26 Years Capt. Anthony T. Orme 26 Years Fr. Ralph H. Palmer #46 26 Years
Capt. James W. Smith 26 Years Fr. William J. Stibi #120 26 Years Fr. William M. Stone #29 26 Years
Capt. William G. Winstanley 26 Years Fr. Adolph S. Zubrzycki #62 26 Years
Batt. Chf. John J. Giuliano 21 Years Insp. Fr. Alfred D. Nigro #76 21 Years Fr. Leon Puszczykowski #100 21 Years
Fr. Joseph J. McTaggart #26 26 Years Fr. John L. Sterner #73 21 Years Fr. Francis P. Stibi #143 21 Years
Fr. Carl R. Szalkowski #95 21 Years

Group Photos

William R. Harring Jr. group photo

William R. Harring Jr. (group photo)

William Harring Jr., Robert Troutman, and Charles Lawyer

William Harring Jr., Robert Troutman & Charles Lawyer

William R. Harring Jr. fire department card

William R. Harring Jr. — Camden Fire Department card

William Harring Jr., 69, ex-Camden firefighter

Camden Courier-Post

Obituary for William Harring Jr., ex-Camden firefighter, 1990

CAMDEN — Services were to be held today for William R. Harring Jr., a Camden firefighter who died Tuesday at Cooper Hospital-University Medical Center here.

He was 69.

Mr. Harring, who was born in Camden and lived there all his life, retired from the fire department nine years ago after 34 years of service.

He was a member of Local 788, International Association of Firefighters, and saw duty during World War II in the U.S. Navy.

He is survived by his wife, Josephine A. (Dolly); two sons, William R. III of Oakdale, Conn., and Robert B. of Washington Township; two brothers, Quentin P. of San Diego, Calif., and Kenneth B. of Rochester, N.Y.; and two grandchildren.

Services were to be at 11 a.m. at the Edward P. Leonard Jr. Funeral Home, 35th Street and River Avenue, where friends were to call after 9:30 a.m. Interment was to be private at the convenience of the family.

Josephine A. Harring

HARRING, JOSEPHINE A. (nee Simpson) On November 16, 2005, formerly of Camden, NJ; Age 82 years. Beloved wife of the late William R. Jr.; Devoted Mother of William R. III and his wife, Anna, Robert B.; Loving Grandmother of Marcus and Karla and great grandmother of Vince, Camden and Kelsey. Prior to retiring in 1988, Mrs. Harring was employed by the Camden City Board of Education for 26 years. She was also a World War II Navy Veteran, Yeoman 1st Class. Prior to the war she was an employee of West Jersey Title and Guaranty in Camden and was a 1941 graduate of Woodrow Wilson High School. Relatives and friends are invited to the Visitation, Friday, 9:00 AM at the FALCO CARUSO & LEONARD PENNSAUKEN FUNERAL HOME, 6600 N. Browning Road. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30AM at the Church of St. Anthony of Padua, 2818 River Road, Camden, NJ 08105. Interment will follow at Brigadier General William C. Doyle Veteran Cemetery, Arneytown, NJ. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to St. Anthony Church at the above address.

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