Mr. Philip James Harter, age 78, Colton, died peacefully at his home on January 7, 2011 while in the care of his daughter, Laurie House, and Hospice and Palliative Care of St. Lawrence Valley. Mr. Harter was born in Watertown, on March 31, 1932, to the late Lyle H. and Muriel I. Hardy Harter.

He graduated from Watertown High School in 1950, Hamilton College in 1954, and Harvard Business School in 1956. He then entered the U.S. Navy and graduated from Officer Candidate School, Newport, RI, on December 10, 1956.

He married Joanna Trayser, Watertown, on December 22, 1956 and reported for active duty with the U.S. Navy on January 3, 1957. He served for four years, first on heavy cruisers, then on the staff of Medal of Honor winner Rear Adm. Ramage. He finished his active duty as an instructor in Naval Warfare at the Anti-Air Warfare School in Norfolk, VA, and left active service in December, 1960.

Mr. Harter then joined Eastman Kodak Company in Rochester working in the Data Processing Department, designing and implementing the price Catalog System which is still in use today.

He continued to serve in the U.S. Navy, retiring from the Reserves in 1977 as a Lt. Commander. He retired from Kodak in 1986, and moved with Joanna to Colton from Pittsford, in 1989.

He enjoyed camping at Rollins Pond in the Adirondacks, making furniture, woodworking, and leather tooling.

He is survived by his brother, Dr. Lawrence D. Harter, Watertown; four children, Lisa Harter, Baldwinsville, Laurie Harter House (Stephen), Hannawa Falls, Jeffrey James Harter (Judy), San Francisco, Calif., and Jennifer Harter, Wilmington, NC; three grandchildren, Miranda W. Harter, San Francisco, Eian C. House, Hannawa Falls, and Zoe Olivia Harter-Saunders, Baldwinsville. Mr. Harter was pre-deceased by his wife Joanna, in April of 2009, and his grandson, Christian Philip House, in November of 2008.

Mr. Harter chose to be cremated, with no funeral services. Friends may offer condolences on Sunday January 9, from 1-5 p.m. at the home of Laurie and Stephen House, 153 Birch Dr., Potsdam (Hannawa Falls).

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Hospice and Palliative Care of St. Lawrence Valley, US 11, Potsdam, or to the Christian House Memorial Scholarship Fund, c/o Potsdam Central School, Leroy Street, Potsdam.

Memories and condolences may be shared with the family online at www.buckfuneralhome.com.

The Buck Funeral Home in Colton is serving the family of Mr. Philip James Harter.