Val Harris Obituary

Val "John" Harris

Val "John" Harris, 84, passed away peacefully Friday, June 27, 2025 at The Meadows of Ottawa. John was born September 8, 1940, in Columbus to the late Jack and Lucille (Ambos) Harris, who preceded him in death. He was a 1958 graduate of Lima Senior High School, and August 29, 1964, he married Joyce (Eikenbary) Harris.

John proudly served his country in the United States Navy from 1959 to 1963, where he discovered his passion for cooking while preparing meals for his fellow servicemen. This passion became the foundation of a long and successful career in the food service industry.

He began his professional journey with L&K Restaurants, starting as a manager in Chillicothe before eventually transferring to Bluffton. Through hard work and leadership, John rose to become vice president of operations. In 1984, he took a bold step to become an entrepreneur, purchasing his first restaurant - Henry's in Ottawa. The following year, he became owner and operator of twelve L&K locations, later known as JR Valentine's. Over the course of his career, John's dedication and business acumen led him to own and operate 24 restaurants. He was proud to celebrate 40 years of Henry's in Ottawa.

Beyond his professional life, John was a dedicated member of Bluffton First Methodist Church. He was also actively involved in Rotary Club of Ottawa, Lions Club of Bluffton, and American Legion. He cherished spending time with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren, never missing an opportunity to attend their sporting events. John also enjoyed bowling and his Friday golf league with close friends. He will be remembered for his generous spirit, strong work ethic, and unwavering love for his family and community.

Survivors include his wife, Joyce Harris of Bluffton; two children, Jody (Michael) Benton of Columbus and Jeff (Samantha) Harris of Pandora; six grandchildren, Joshua (Carrie) Vandenburg, Samuel (Lucie) Vandenburg, Elijah (Chloe) Harris, Gabrielle Benton, Aiden Harris, and Colin Harris; eight great-grandchildren, Zoe, Judah, Sophia, and Liam Vandenburg, Diego Atayi, Brooklyn, Molly and Daisy Harris; and two sisters-in-law, Judi Harris of Lima and Judy Harris of Lima.

John was also preceded in death by two brothers, Douglas Harris and Michael Harris.

John's services will begin at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, July 2, 2025, at Bluffton First Methodist Church, with Pastor Bob Clinger officiating. Burial will be at Maple Grove Cemetery following service. Visitation will be from 2-4 p.m. and 6-8 p.m. Tuesday, July 1, 2025, at Chiles-Laman Funeral & Cremation Services - Bluffton and one hour prior to service at the church.

Memorial contribu-tions may be made to Bluffton First Methodist Church.

Condolences may be expressed to the family at www.chiles-lamanfh.com.