Paul E Harris

Paul E. Harris, age 57, Bainbridge Twp, OH.  He leaves behind his trusted partner in everything, beloved wife, Pam Krotzer. The son of Jennifer (Roddie) Hoffman and the late Ray E. Harris. Born and raised on the Howard Family Farm in Bainbridge Township, Paul spent his entire life striving to continue the legacy left by his parents and grandparents. 

Vernon and Marion Howard, or as he called them Grandpa and Grandma, were his inspiration to lead a life dedicated to promoting agriculture and farming in Geauga County and beyond. Following in his father’s footsteps, Paul continued farming after earning a degree in Dairy Science from The Ohio State University. As a proud dairy farmer, maple producer, and owner/operator of Howard’s Apples, he loved sharing the history of one of Bainbridge Township's founding families. He also proudly boasted of having the only rollercoaster in Geauga County. Paul could always be found on his tractor, in the fields, or with his cows.

If you knew Paul, you knew his two passions were dairy farming and The Great Geauga County Fair. He frequently boasted that he never missed a fair his entire life. In 1993, Paul succeeded Vernon Howard and became a Geauga County Agricultural Society Fairboard Director. From then until the day he took his last breath on June 4, 2024, Paul was driven to create an amazing fair experience for the community and beyond. In 2006, he was elected as Fairboard President. Always dedicated to doing the best job he could, Paul stepped up to be the Secretary of the Fair in 2008. Paul's leadership extended statewide as he joined the Ohio Fair Managers Association and became the District 9 Director in 2008. He tirelessly advocated for the welfare of fairs across Ohio, working to update legislation and ensure fair funding and proper oversight. Paul recently completed his term as OFMA President in 2023.

To say he was a busy man was an understatement, but he was never too busy to visit with an old friend who dropped into the apple stand or the fair office. He loved telling stories and no matter how tired he was at the end of an exhausting day of running the farm and fair, you could find him in the Dairy Barn hanging out with his favorite people. The generosity Paul showed to both loved ones and strangers was truly remarkable. He was always the first to contribute to donations and took great joy in supporting the Junior Fair kids. There is nothing Paul loved more than his cows, the Parker kids and fairs. 

Friends and family received at ST. JOHN FUNERAL HOME, 16381 CHILLICOTHE RD, (RT 306), CHAGRIN FALLS, 44023 (2.5 MILES NORTH OF RT 422), MONDAY, JUNE 10 FROM 3 P.M. – 8 P.M.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations be made to the Geauga County Fair Foundation, PO Box 402, Burton, Ohio 44021, or visit the Geauga County Fair Foundation online donation page at http://bit.ly/4aQeBFJ.