William Edward Harriss, M.D. (2024)

Dr. William Edward (“Ed”) Harriss passed away Wednesday, May 22, 2024, at the age of 85 years in Riverside, California. Ed is survived by his wife of nearly 41 years, Bonita (Bonnie) Barlene Harriss, his two daughters Katherine J. Harriss Fadum and son-in-law Peter G. Fadum of Oakley, CA, and Jennifer L. Harriss Kibort of San Diego, CA from a previous marriage; Bonnie’s daughter Wendy LeVau McGee and son-in-law Jeremy McGee of Fayetteville, AR, and grandchildren Tyler McGee of Las Vegas, NV and Aubrie McGee of Fayetteville, AR, one stepbrother, Frank Fenzel of Reno, NV, his former wife Mary Ruth Harriss of Riverside, CA and cousins and second-cousins across the country. He was pre-deceased by his parents, Harry Schulze Harriss and Ruth Clara Rauch Harriss, and his stepmother, Violet Walker Fenzel Harriss, all of Carbondale, IL. Ed was born June 8, 1938, in Carbondale, IL. He graduated from Carbondale Community High School in 1956 and received his B.A. degree in Chemistry from Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, IL in 1960. Ed graduated with his Doctor of Medicine degree from the University of Illinois School of Medicine in Chicago, IL in 1964. He completed his medical internship at Illinois Masonic Hospital in Chicago, IL, and participated in a post-graduate program at Northwestern University, finishing in 1965. Ed served in the U.S. Army starting in 1965 where he completed his Residency in Pediatric medicine, and served as the Chief of Pediatrics at Letterman Hospital at the Presidio in San Francisco, CA. He continued to work at Darnell Army Hospital in Fort Hood, TX, obtaining the rank of Major before leaving military service and moving to his permanent residence in Riverside, CA in 1970. Ed joined the Riverside Medical Clinic in the summer of 1970 where he practiced medicine as a Pediatrician, and at various hospitals in Riverside for 43 years. Throughout his career, he was a member of the American Board of Pediatrics, the American Medical Association, the California Medical Association, the Riverside County Medical Association, and the Los Angeles Pediatric Society. Ed provided expert medical care to thousands of patients through his medical practice and volunteer efforts. He was honored to serve as a Pediatrician to many of his early childhood patient’s children, continuing care across multiple generations during his long career. He was revered by many parents who complimented him for having provided such professional and devoted care to their children. Throughout his life, Ed provided a loving home for his children, he was an enthusiastic parent supporting his daughter’s academic, artistic, and sports activities from elementary school through college. During his daughter’s college years, he was an enthusiastic fan of the UCLA Bruins football and basketball teams. Ed and Bonnie were married on May 25, 1983. They enjoyed many wonderful times together, embracing their respective families and enjoying common interests in travel throughout the United States, golf, bowling, and spectator sports (especially professional football, Go Rams, and baseball, love those St. Louis Cardinals). Ed and Bonnie did more than a little gambling, particularly in Laughlin, NV, and made annual trips to Illinois for the Harriss Cousin’s Family Reunions, family trips to Lake Tahoe, and other favorite spots along the California coast. Ed was passionate about gardening, developing and maintaining extensive rose gardens at his homes in Riverside. At age 65 Ed was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease which restricted, and eventually stopped, his ability to play golf and continue gardening. Fortunately, he was still able to make the annual trip back to Illinois and play slot machines at his favorite casinos. Ed could have retired at an earlier age, but with the end of his favorite hobbies enjoyed throughout life, he continued to serve his community in the best way he knew, as an elder physician until he decided it was time to stop working in his early 70s. Though his body was declining, he put his heart and soul into helping others during the last years of his career. The family is very proud of Ed’s nearly half-century of professional medical contributions to the children of Riverside and the Inland Empire. There will be a private family service in July. Bonnie is comforted that her daughter, and Ed’s daughters, have relocated to Riverside and are staying with her, and living nearby, during the summer.