Harmon Stafford Meeker

Harmon Stafford Meeker, Jr. passed away Monday, August 14, 2023 surrounded by his family in Peoria, Arizona. Born in 1930 in New Jersey, he was the son of the late Harmon and Katherine Meeker. 

Harmon was a January 1948 graduate of Irvington High School. Immediately after high school he began working at Prudential where he met the love of his life, Dora. That fall, he attended Rutgers College where he earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics. At Rutgers, Harmon played football and was a proud member and President of Tau Kappa Epsilon (TKE) fraternity. 

Upon graduation he married his sweetheart Dora and the two of them embarked on a two year adventure to Newport, Rhode Island where he served active duty in the Navy. After the Navy, Harmon went back to Prudential where he remained until his retirement. Harmon retired as Vice President for Prudential’s Property and Casualty (PRUPAC) division located in Holmdel, New Jersey. 

Harmon proudly served his country both as an active duty and reserve Naval Officer, holding the rank of Captain, for twenty years. He proudly served on the USS Kirkpatrick DER 318 as a navigation and gunnery officer and was the official "Captain" of the annual Kirkpatrick Reunions. He was invited and attended an Honor Flight in Washington, D.C. in 2017.

Harmon was a proud alumnus of Rutgers University holding season tickets for Rutgers Football for many years and raising tens of thousands of dollars in contributions for the University. He proudly walked in the reunion parades every five years.

After retiring, Harmon and Dora moved from New Jersey to the retirement community of Westbrook Village in Peoria, Arizona where they lived for the past 31 years. They met many new friends and were part of many different clubs and activities, including Harmon's beloved golf. They were season ticket holders to the Arizona Cardinals and attended the Super Bowl to watch the Cardinals play.

Harmon lived life to the fullest and was especially proud of his six children. Ever the adventurer he took his family of eight on a cross country trip from New Jersey to California in a pop-up camper as well as a three week trip to Europe. Harmon and Dora were always ready for a trip and especially enjoyed traveling with family and friends. Their travels brought them to all 50 states and over 50 countries. His legacy of travel has been passed on to his children and grandchildren.

Harmon was very active in St. Elizabeth Seton Catholic Church in Sun City and was a 4th Degree Knight in the Knights of Columbus. Harmon is survived by the love of his life and his wife of 71 years Dora Meeker, his daughter Kathleen, sons Richard and his wife Theresa, James and his wife Loretta, John and his wife Pam, daughter Nancy and daughter Jeanne and her husband Bob, grandchildren Angela, Natalie, Jesse, Haley, Jenna, Jacob, Lora and Nathan, and great grandchildren, Gavin, Kevin, Raiden, Brynne, Nina and Naomi.

In lieu of flowers donations in Harmon’s memory may be made to: St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, 501 St. Jude Pl, Memphis, TN 38105.