Corpsman Walter Harrison poses for a picture while serving with the 4th Marine Division in the Pacific during World War II. Harrison, 86, a well-known doctor and missionary, died at his home Tuesday.

Dr. Walter Harrison Jr., 86, who helped bring thousands of babies into the world during his career, left the world himself on Tuesday.

Harrison was found unresponsive by his son at his house on First Street Southeast about 9:35 p.m. Tuesday. He was pronounced dead at the scene, and funeral arrangements are being handled by Baker Funeral Home. For visitation and funeral information, see Page 2A.

Born Feb. 14, 1924, in Wilmore, Ky., Harrison served with the 4th Marine Division, including serving in the Pacific during World War II, from 1943 until 1946. After returning home, he was married to Phyllis Martin in 1947, and he earned a bachelor’s degree from Asbury College in Wilmore, Ky., in 1949 and his doctorate from Tulane University Medical School in New Orleans in 1953.

After completing his residency at McCloud Infirmary in Florence, S.C., from 1953 to 1955, Harrison came to Moultrie in 1955 and started his own practice, where he served until 1998. During his time in practice, he delivered more than 6,500 babies, including performing the county’s first low cervical Caesarian section delivery and first low spinal anesthesia, according to information from Colquitt Regional Medical Center.

Harrison’s son, Walter Harrison III, said his father was most proud of his ministry and his profession. He was proud of his service in the Pacific during World War II, even though he never fired a single shot. He served in several campaigns, including the battles of Saipan, Tinian and Iwo Jima, but had a different mission there.

“Instead of taking lives,” Harrison said, “he spend his time there trying to save lives. He saw some really bad things and some great acts of heroism.”

Even though his father’s name was not mentioned with other veterans for several years on Veterans Day, Harrison said his father was very proud of his service. He returned to Asia in the 1990s to visit places where he fought and served as part of an anniversary of the war.

In addition to his military service, Harrison said his father was very proud of his ministries. He did a prison ministry at the Colquitt County Correctional Institute from 1970 until this past Sunday, Dec. 5.

Harrison said his father started the prison ministry as a way to do something extra for the community. It was no coincidence the prison ministry began the same year his sister died.

The prison ministry was one opportunity his father got to serve in missions, Harrison said. His father served as a missionary to 13 countries, including China and Korea, before starting ministries to Central America, such as to Honduras and Costa Rica. He continued to serve in missions in recent years even though his health began to decline.

“He felt a calling to do mission work here at home,” Harrison said. That desire helped lead to the founding of the Good Samaritan Methodist Church in Ellenton.

Harrison said his father was also proud to call Moultrie home and to work in a small town. He enjoyed his early days in practice where he got to make several house calls, and he stayed here even after his partner, Dr. Holmes, died unexpectedly in 1955.

“Moultrie was an adopted area for him,” Harrison said, “but he loved it here.”

Jim Lowry, chief executive officer of Colquitt Regional Medical Center, said Harrison was a physician who will be remembered for his leadership and humanitarian efforts. He served on almost every qualifying committee at the hospital during his career and he will be missed for all he did for his patients, his colleagues and those he served on mission trips.

“Dr. Harrison was a great community leader, a great physician and a great community member,” Lowry said. “He will help us all remember the moral obligation we have as physicians.”

During his career, Lowry said Harrison served as chief of staff at Colquitt Regional in 1976, served on the Colquitt County Hospital Authority from 1977 until 1984, established the CRMC Children’s Fund and served on the Colquitt Regional Medical Foundation board. He was named as the Colquitt County Man of the Year in 2003 for his impact on the community.

Dr. D.W. Adcock, who worked for several years with Harrison, said he felt like he lost a great friend and a wonderful mentor. He said Harrison meant a whole lot to him while he was in the early years of practice and also was instrumental is sparking his interest in going on mission trips. Harrison was also instrumental in starting the annual Love Light campaign that had helped raised a tremendous amount of money to help Colquitt Regional and the community.

“The community has lost a wonderful physician,” Adcock said. “He will be sorely missed.”

Dr. Seth Berl said Harrison and Adcock together took him under their wing and gave him advice when he first moved to Moultrie in 1984. It was common practice then for older doctors to reach out to the younger doctors and mentor them. When Harrison retired, he referred many of his patients to Berl, even while “running” a clinic from his house.

“He just wanted to stay involved in the medical field,” Berl said.

Serving as a mentor continued from the doctor’s office and onto the mission field; Berl said he went on his first medical mission trip with Harrison in 1999. Berl got hooked on serving in the mission field, and he and his wife Linda spend at least four weeks each year serving in Honduras.

“I would never have got involved in foreign missions if not for him,” Berl said.

When Harrison’s health began to decline and he was unable to travel, Berl said he would still meet with Harrison regularly for lunch to discuss work and missions. Harrison’s mind would be as sharp as ever, and he would continue giving Berl advice and serving as a mentor.