Harry Dennis

Harry Lee Dennis, age 84, passed away on Monday, February 1, 2021, at Providence Hospital. Mobile Memorial Gardens Funeral Home is honored to be entrusted with the arrangements.

Harry was born in Jacksonville, Illinois, on September 4, 1936 to Chester Dennis and Geneva White Dennis. He enlisted in the United States Air Force and served active duty from June 8, 1953 until August 6, 1973. Throughout his 20 years of service, he was stationed in 23 bases around the world. His first base was in Sanderstram, Greenland. He was stationed in Alaska for 5 years, where he and his first wife adopted two Eskimo baby girls. He was also stationed at Keesler Air Force Base. While serving his first of three tours in Vietnam as an AeroEvac Medic, he was poisoned at the age of 34. As a result, he suffered a stroke and seizures, but recovered and God gave him another 50 years. He received 18 ribbons and 5 medals, including the President’s Metal. He achieved the level of Tech Sargent (E-6) even while suffering from the residual effects of the stroke. After retiring from the Air Force, he attended Santa Fe College in New Mexico and earned his bachelor’s degree. He enjoyed reading and traveling most of all. He and his wife, Pat, traveled to all 50 states and to the islands of Aruba, Puerto Rico, and the Bahamas. They also went on a Viking cruise all over Europe in 2018, when Harry was 82 years old.

Harry was preceded in death by his parents, Chester and Geneva Dennis; stepparents, Harry and Jeannette Malin; and daughter, Sonja Fuller.

He is survived by his wife, Patricia Peterson Dennis; his sisters, Carolyn (Jim) Megginson, Sharon (Glen) Beer, and Beth (Richard) Rosenbush; four children, Lynn Redd, Sherri (Mike) Cates, Roderick (Ashley) Gillespie, and Raymond (Sarah) Bell; 10 grandchildren, Justin Redd, Sherri Marie Eisenhardt, Lisa Roush, Jonathan Eisenhardt, Robert Fuller, Kali (Joshua) Lowry, Layton Gillespie, Kindalyn Gillespie, Piper Bell, and Clementine Bell; 13 great-grandchildren, Isaac, Emma, Ava, Luci, Ethan, Alice, Athena, Lotus, Dexter, Willow, Keiynean, Starla, and Joshua; one great-great-grandson, Nathan; and many nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, February 6, 2021, at 3:00 p.m. at Tillmans Corner First Baptist Church. The family will receive friends at the church from 2:00 p.m. until 3:00 p.m. Burial will follow at Serenity Memorial Gardens in the Wall of Honor Garden.