Roger Thomas Haralson

Roger Thomas Haralson, 80, passed away peacefully at his home in Macon, Georgia on August 26, 2026, with his wife and daughters by his side.

Born in West Point, Georgia on April 8, 1946, he is the son of the late Thomas Pierce Haralson and Louise Poole Haralson. He is survived by his loving wife Paula Shelley Haralson, daughter Staci (Mike) Malloy, daughter Jennifer (Shan) Willis, granddaughter Riley Willis, grandson Max Willis, sister Judi Garrett, sister-in-law Debbie Shelley Henthorne, 3 nieces, 2 nephews and many much-loved extended family members and friends. He was the best husband, father, brother, brother-in-law, father-in-law and Gdaddy!

After graduating from West Point High School in 1964 he attended Auburn University where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in Aerospace Engineering. He met his wife Paula Shelley at the Snocap in Langdale, AL. They were married on October 7, 1966, and were together for 6 decades.

Following graduation from Auburn University, Roger Paula and their new baby moved to Connecticut where he worked as an experimental test engineer for Pratt & Whitney Aircraft Corporation until 1972. He joined the Air Forces that same year and was commissioned through Officer Training School in August 1972. Upon completion of Undergraduate Navigator Training at Mather AFB, CA and F-4 training at Luke AFB, AZ. Roger was assigned to the 10th Tactical Fighter Squadron Hahn AB, Germany. During his tour at Hahn Roger became Chief of the 50th Tactical Fighter Wing Scheduling Division and was instrumental in the scheduling and implementation of “Salty Rooster” the largest ever flying exercise for an Air Force Fighter Wing.

In July 1978, Roger was assigned to the 68TFS, Moody AFB, GA. As wing training officer, he developed weapons training programs Pave Spike and Maverick. He was assigned to the 57th Fighter Interceptor Squadron, Keflavik, Iceland in October 1980, where he served as an Instructor Weapon Evaluation Flight Examiner.

In November 1981 he was assigned to the Foreign Technology Division Wright Patterson Air Force Base, OH as an Intelligence Production Manager. Under his management the Electronic Warfare Integrated Reprogramming doubled in size and increased from 70 to over 200 customers. He represented the Air Force intelligence community in discussion with two foreign air forces and established procedures for Foreign Technology Division emergency support to the USAF.

In August 1985, he returned to Moody Air Force Base, GA as a Flight Commander in the 69TFS and 9th Air Force Mission Commander. During the time he led large composite force employment packages in Gallant Eagle and Green Flag flying exercises.

In October 1987, Roger was assigned to the USAF Tactical Air Warfare Center, Eglin Air Force Base, FL as Chief, Center Reprogramming where he consolidated emergency reprogramming support procedures into center regulations. During operation DESERT SHIELD/STORM he organized the Electronic Warfare reprogramming software support for wartime operations and served as an Emergency Reprogramming Center Operations Officer. During this seven-month period, the Center made 59 software changes to 15 EW systems employed on over 750 combat aircraft. Following DESERT SHIELD/STORM, he developed a Center-wide data automation plan.

Major Roger “Rog” Haralson was a senior navigator with over 1700 hours in F-4 fighter aircraft. His military awards and decorations included the Meritorious Service Medal with one oak leaf cluster, Air Force Commendation Medal, Air Force Combat Readiness Medal, and National Defense Service Medal.

Roger retired from the Air Force May 1992 after 20 years of service.

After retirement Roger was a Senior Software Engineer at TRW, Lockheed Martin where he worked on system upgrades and weapons controls on the F22 Raptor. He retired from Northrop Grumman Corporation in 2020 at 74. He would probably still be working if not for Covid. People would always ask him when he would retire and he would tell them “When it was not fun anymore”

His childhood and adolescence saw him as a Boy Scout, a marksman and a pool shark. Summers were spent lifeguarding at Callaway Gardens and, later (while attending Auburn), helping to build the bridges over I-85. Sports-wise, Roger was well-known by all as a fervent supporter of the Auburn Tigers football team ("War Eagle!"). But he also loved golf, both as a player and a spectator. And once he acquired his 2014 Stingray Corvette, he loved driving at the type of speeds that re-captured his love of flying. But he had always enjoyed being on the road, whether traveling for work or with his family. While at home, Roger loved grilling on the patio, watching old movies and reading espionage novels (though his favorite book remained the Bible).

He never divulged the secrets in Hangar 18 at Wright-Patterson AFB no matter how much his family badgered him.

Roger and Paula spent many hours restoring their Victorian home in the Historic Vineville neighborhood in Macon, GA. They were involved in the Vineville Historic Neighborhood association, always there to help with any and everything needed in the neighborhood.

Roger will be deeply missed because he was the best husband, father, brother, brother-in-law, father-in-law and Gdaddy!

A graveside service will be held Thursday, September 3rd at 11am EST at the Marseilles Cemetery (also known as West Point Cemetery) in West Point, Georgia. The address is 400 E. 12th Street West Point, GA 31833

Paula, Staci and Jennifer invite you to lunch after the service at Sunny’s Home Cooking. The address is 7380 Fairfax Bypass Valley, AL

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. (www.stjude.org/donate)

Please visit www.hartsmort.com to express your condolences.

Hart's Mortuary at the Cupola, 6324 Peake Road, Macon, Georgia 31210, has charge of the arrangements.