Jimmie Cone recently shared the news of the passing of William “Bill” Harris- former owner of the iconic Damascus ice cream shop. Current Jimmie Cone owners, Dan and Bonnie Leiter, bought Jimmie Cone in 1990 from Bill and Dorothy Harris, who are the son and daughter-in-law of the original owner.
According to his obituary, “William graduated from Damascus High School in 1959 and from Clemson University in 1963 with a degree in Horticulture. He worked for the Maryland State Highway Administration and later for the Washington Area Metropolitan Transit Authority (Metro), retiring in 2003. He also owned and operated several landscape businesses as well as The Jimmie Cone, a small family business in Damascus, Maryland, serving ice cream.”
On Monday morning, Jimmie Cone shared the following on social media “We are saddened to share the news of the passing of Mr. Bill Harris, the former owner and son of the founder of Jimmie Cone. Mr. Harris met my dad over 35 years ago when they struck up a conversation about the possibility of selling the business. I am grateful for Mr. Harris and the opportunity he was able pass to my dad, and ultimately to me, and for the pillar he helped to create in our beloved community. We send our love and prayers to the entire Harris family. We rejoice with them knowing their husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather is made whole again in Heaven with our Lord and Savior!
Thank you Mr. Jimmie Cone! May we honor you today and in the days ahead with each cone we serve with a smile!”