Ronald Lee Harsha, Jr.

Ronald Lee Harsha, Jr., age 83, passed away Saturday, December 13, 2025, at the Self Regional Healthcare Hospital in Greenwood, SC.

He was born December 27, 1941, in Dayton, OH and was the son of the late Ronald Lee Harsha, Sr. and Emma Routzohn Harsha.

Ronald’s career in science began at Monsanto Mound Laboratories in Miamisburg, OH where he met his forever partner, Chrystal. They later moved to Colorado to work at the Rocky Flats Nuclear Plant. While finishing his long journey to receiving his Bachelor of Science Degree from the University of Dayton, he began his teaching career. He moved his family to South Carolina in 1980 to teach at Newberry Junior High, and the following year he started teaching all sciences and coaching at Whitmire High School.

He was known to most of his students as “Coach Harsha”, to some “Coach”, to many “Pops”, and yet others “Old Man”. Teaching was his career, but his students and athletes were his life. Coach Harsha’s decades-long coaching success, primarily as the Head Varsity Girls’ Basketball Coach, was honored when he was inducted into the Whitmire High School Athletic Hall of Fame.

Ron, who attended First Presbyterian Church of Whitmire, is survived by his wife of almost 60 years Chrystal Dwyer Harsha; his son, Wayne J. Harsha (Dana Cornejo) of Whitmire; his daughters, Amy H. Edouard (Antz) of Columbia and Peggy J. Aughtry (Danny) of Pooler, GA; his grandchildren, Samuel Adams, Gabrielle DeChant, Emma Harsha, Wyatt Harsha, Claire Davenport, Garrick Edouard, Kaden Edouard, and Bryce Edouard.

The family would like to invite everyone, especially his former students, for a time of sharing and remembering the life of Coach Harsha on Tuesday, December 16, 2025, at 6:00 PM at the First Baptist Church of Whitmire.

A Memorial Service will be held Wednesday, December 17, 2025, at 2:00 PM at the First Baptist Church of Whitmire officiated by his son, Rev. Wayne Harsha and Rev. Todd Johnson.

The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Experience Anatomy Foundation, 4340 Taggart Creek Rd., Suite D, Charlotte, NC 28208, www.anatomyfoundation.org.

Condolences may be expressed to the family at www.grayfunerlhome.com

Gray Funeral Home of Whitmire is assisting the Harsha Family with services.