Robert R. Harson of Emmaus, died Sept. 23, 2014. He was the be- loved companion of Pamela West Ruch, horticulturist and garden writer for many years. Born in NYC, Staten Island, he served with the U.S. Army in Europe, graduated from Wagner College and earned his M.A. and Ph.D. at Ohio University.

Dr. Harson had been a professor of British and American Literature at Lehigh University for 29 years, retiring in 1995.

Formerly married to Ann Amari Harson, they were the parents of two sons, Neville, of Colorado, and Court, in Montclair, N.J. He was the grandfather of three children; a sister, Joan McAloon, lives on, along with numerous other relatives.

At Lehigh, he published articles on Byron, Wordsworth, Mary Shelley, and others. Locally, he was active in community groups such as the Emmaus Film Society, East Penn Environmental Concern, Radprin and 19th Street Theater.

For 10 years he led the book discussion group at Emmaus Public Library. He acted in community and college theater, performing Shakespeare to comedy to modern drama.

His ashes will be scattered in a simple ceremony. Arrangements were made by the Nicos C. Elias Funeral Home Allentown.