David Samuel Harkness, 74, of Pennington, NJ, passed away peacefully on Monday, April 13, 2015, in Capital Health System, Hopewell, after a long illness. David was born on Oct. 2, 1940, in Trenton, NJ, to the late David W. and Anna (Chapman) Harkness. He spent his childhood in Lawrenceville before moving to Pennington in 1961. David spent most of his career in the Steel Brokerage business in New York City. He was the general manager of the sales division for the European Process Equipment Corporation. This included buying from major steel mills throughout the world and selling to end users in the United States. He also worked as a steel trader for New Process Steel International, Inc. in New York, serving domestic end users, and traveling throughout the United States as the senior trader in the New York International office. As a young man, David was an athlete and musician. He played Little League, Babe Ruth, and American Legion baseball, and was drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates and Brooklyn Dodgers, but was prodded by his parents to attend college instead. David graduated from Bordentown Military Institute in 1958 and Trenton Junior College in 1960. He also attended Temple University. David met his future wife, Joan, at Trenton Junior College. They were married for 54 years. David was very active in his community. He was a member and deacon of the Pennington Presbyterian Church, a local Jaycee, a member of the Ewing Kiwanis, and sat on the YMCA Board, Soccer Board, and Pennington Zoning Board. David coached junior league soccer (VanHise Realty) for 10 years, and Babe Ruth baseball (Ewing Kiwanis) for three years. After retirement, David became a NASCAR fan, and traveled to many states to see the races. He also was a member of the Trenton Historical Society, Hopewell Valley Historical Society, and Friends of Howell Living History Farm, where he and his wife volunteered for several years. David also sat on the Board of Directors for the Bordentown Military Institute Alumni Association. David's brother, Donald H. Harkness, preceeded him in death in 1981. He is survived by his beloved wife, the former Joan A. VanNoy; his children, Ann Elizabeth (Geoff), Lynne Ann (Vini), David William (Denise), Jonathan Hugh (Louis) and William Fenton (Katherine). His grandchildren include William F. Jr., Morgan, Sarah, Madison Harkness and Everton Batista. He is also survived by his former sister-in-law, Sandra Harkness Barrett, and special friends, Bette, Peaches and Petunia. Funeral service will be held at the Pennington Presbyterian Church on Saturday, April 18, 2015, at 2 p.m. with the Rev. Nancy Mikoski, pastor, officiating. The family will receive friends at the Church from 12:30 p.m. until time of service at the church. Interment will follow in Pennington Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Pennington Presbyterian Church, 13 S. Main St., Pennington, NJ 08534, or to Make Peace with Animals, P.O. Box 488, New Hope, PA 18938. Arrangements are by the Wilson-Apple Funeral Home, 2560 Pennington Road, Pennington. Condolences are welcome at www.wilsonapple.com Wilson-Apple Funeral Home 2560 Pennington Road Pennington, NJ 08534 (609) 737-1498

Return to In Memoriam