| Sources |
- [S112] Census, Tennessee, Sevier County, 4-Dist, Series: T624 Roll: 1518 Page: 53, 25 Apr 1910.
Robert L. Harbin household
- [S4] Knoxville News-Sentinel (Tennessee), 8 Nov 2007.
HARBIN, F.H. "HACK" - Out in his office this morning things still look the same. The walls are covered from floor to ceiling with a hundred-year lifetime of memories and achievements. He was a charter member and past president of the Powell Lions Club, where he was chairman of their main fundraiser for 48 years, the Powell Lions Club Horse Show. One wall is covered with Lions awards: White Cane Day, Lion of the Year, the prestigious Melvin Jones award for humanitarianism, and his cherished collection of buttons and pins from years of Lions International conventions. Another wall has hundreds of blue ribbons (even a few red and yellow ones) and a case of trophies won by the Tennessee Walking Horses he owned and showed with various trainers over the years. There is a picture of his 1965 world champion "Bell Aire's Merry Me". A book shelf that once held house plans, subdivision plot maps, sewer and water treatment plant designs from his years as president of his own general contracting firm, now houses more memories: his autographed baseball, (he was a Braves fan), his tri-folded confederate flag presented to him as the grandson of Jasper Harbin, a confederate war veteran, the gavel he used as the first president of the Golden Harvesters (the senior adult ministries of Grace Baptist Church), a few joke books, a practice golf club and a few balls. Then there's the corner with political stuff. You can tell he was a Republican. There are pictures with Newt Gingrich, Don Sundquist, and John Duncan, a framed invitation to Ronald Reagan's inaugural, the certificate that says he was an honorary colonel for governor Winfield Dunn, and his autographed George W. Bush photo. Another corner has framed documents that honor him as a founding commissioner of the Hallsdale-Powell Utility District. He loved to tell the story about how, in 1955, he went door to door collecting $5 from each household desiring a reliable water system for the community. Now it's one of the state's largest districts, and the new water plant at Melton Hill is to be named in his honor. When he retired, Knox County Executive Tommy Shumpert, declared April 26, 1999, "F.H. Harbin Day" in his honor of his 45 years of community service. All this "stuff" is still there, but something is missing. The News Sentinel will stay in the box today, the Bible on his desk will stay closed, and his desk chair is empty. Hack went home to be with his Lord, November 5, 2007. Della, his wife of 68 years, his son, Bill, and daughter, Elizabeth, have been waiting there. He leaves behind sons and daughters-in-law, Ronald and Lola Harbin, Kenneth and Betty Harbin; daughters and sons-in-law, Hilda and Bob Mills, Joyce and Bill Shupe, Janice and John Danner. There are 18 grandchildren; 24 great grandchildren; and 9 great great grandchildren. Only one life 'twill soon be passed, only what's done for Christ will last. He was a member of Grace Baptist Church, where he was instrumental in acquiring the land for their Family Life Center and served on its building committee. Special thanks to caregivers Sherry Morris and Doctor Richard Antonucci and his wonderful staff. Family will receive friends from 5 to 7 pm Thursday with the funeral following at Grace Baptist Church. Meet us at Highland Memorial for interment Friday 11 am. Serving the family: Stevens Mortuary, Oglewood Avenue at N. Broadway. Mr. Harbin's guest book is available at www.stevensmortuaryinc.com
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