Henry Austin Harpin

Henry Austin Epa Harpin, 88, of Newport RI, passed away Thursday December 15, 2011, surrounded by his family at his daughters Middletown home, on the evening before the 15th anniversary of the death of his beloved wife Jean.Born, May 30, 1923, he was the son of the late Mary Grady and A. Charles Harpin. He was preceded in death by his brothers Charles and J. Norman Harpin.He served in WWII at the Battle of the Bulge as a US Army field medic. He entered Bastone with the 4th Armored Division troops to rescue the 101st Airborne. After the Battle of the Bulge in 1944, Henry served in a special army unit to track escaped POWs and displaced persons in Germany. Henry worked at the Torpedo Station on Goat Island and held various positions at the Naval Underwater Systems until his retirement in 1984. He then worked for 10 years at the Island Liquor Store on Broadway. He loved spending time with his family, friends and dog Cody. For the past 14 months, he was lovingly cared for at the home of his daughter Suzanne and her husband Peter Gibson. He was a founding member of the North End Club where he shared many enjoyable times.Married to the late Jean Sullivan Harpin in 1949, he is survived by four children; Suzanne and her husband Peter Gibson of Middletown, Daniel Harpin of Newport, Jeanmarie and her husband Steve Rogers of Portsmouth, and Janice and her husband Rick Schmidt of Brookline, Mass. He leaves behind 8 grandchildren, Ryan and Micaela Murphy, Ben Gibson, Matthew, Melissa and Kristin Rogers, Anna and Grace Schmidt, four great grand children, nieces and nephews, and a sister-in-law Connie Sullivan McAulliffe.Per his wish, calling hours will be omitted.His funeral will be held on Tuesday, December 20, 2011, at 8:00am from the Memorial Funeral Home, 375 Broadway, Newport, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 9:00am in St. Marys Church, Spring Street, Newport, RI. Burial with Military Honors will follow in St. Columba Cemetery, Browns Lane, Middletown.The family of Henry Harpin, want to thank the nurses and staff at VNS Hospice of Newport and Bristol Counties, 1184 East Main Road, Portsmouth for their compassion of care.In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory can be made to the North End Club Scholarship fund, 26 Brookdale Avenue, Middletown RI, 02842 and VNS Hospice Care of Newport and Bristol Counties, 1184 East Main Road, Portsmouth, RI 02871.