Harold Jay Fannin Jr.

Harold Jay Fannin Jr., age 75 of Dayton, passed away unexpectedly on Saturday, June 21, 2025. He was born April 13, 1950 in Dayton, Ohio, the son of the late Harold and Ruby Fannin.

Harold was a teacher and author who had a spiritual quest to pursue truth. His scholarly journey began with a Bachelor of Arts from Wright State University and a Masters in education from the University of Cincinnati. He started teaching small business courses at Ohio Hi-Point. He was a systems analyst associate for University of Cincinnati where he managed hundreds of school computers and the campus email server. He later became an academic instructor. He helped pioneer educational technology as a teacher across many schools with a focus on introducing cutting-edge digital media to the classroom. Harold had a passion for educating gifted children. He became an instructor and assistant Head of School for the Academy of Greater Cincinnati where he taught English class to gifted children between grades 1-8. He taught English and reading at Horizon Science Academy and instructed courses at TechCon Institute. He retired from teaching to pursue writing as his second passion, where he began writing The Treehouse Wars and Orpheus Down. He founded Inner-face Publishing with the dream of innovating the publishing business and making it easier for aspiring authors like himself.

Harold's other interests included history as well as metaphysical literature. He was an avid reader of books and pursued bodily and spiritual knowledge in kind. He loved animals and going to the zoo with his sons. Harold was a gifted communicator and was easy to be friends with. His kindness was known to anyone who was blessed to meet him. He is loved by many and will be sorely missed.

Harold is survived by his son, Jordan Fannin, and his mother, Jeanie Smith James; sister, Carol L. (Fannin) Schipper; niece, Tina Jeanne Grady; nephews, John Christopher Birt, Jason R. Wheeler, and Cody J. Wheeler; first cousins of Dayton, Jim Fannin, Cheryl Alice (Fannin) Allen, David Fannin, Tony Fannin, Mike Fannin, Joy Lee (Fannin) Seaborn, and Mark Fannin; first cousins of Portsmouth, Janet Keilmar, Bobby Keilmar, Debbie Keilmar, and Sharon (Keilmar) Knittle; and first cousins of Orville, J.D. Woodward, Patty Woodward, and Darlene Woodward.

Along with his parents, he is preceded in death by his son, Sean Fannin; sister, Gloria Fannin Hatmaker; grandparents, Rufus and Irene Fannin; maternal grandmother, Hattie Royal; as well as aunts and uncles, LeRoy Fannin, Joyce Fannin, Jim Fannin, Colleen Fannin, Mary Woodward, and Helen and Bob Keilmar.

A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date.

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