Robert E. Porter
September 6, 1931 ~ April 12, 2008
Robert E. "Po" Porter, 76, of 602 Rocky Grove Ave., Franklin, died at 1 a.m. Saturday, April 12, 2008, in the Intensive Care Unit of UPMC Northwest, Seneca. Born Sept. 6, 1931, in Oil City during the Great Depression of the 1930s, he was the son of Robert Ogden Porter and Elizabeth Baker Porter. He grew up in Oil City and was a 1949 graduate of Oil City High School where he was a standout athlete with the Oilers football and basketball teams. Mr. Porter was married May 14, 1953, to Janice Marie Mong of Rocky Grove. She died unexpectedly early May 14, 2003, the day the Porters would have celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. He was a U.S. Army veteran of the Korean War. He stayed in touch with his fellow soldiers throughout his life and he especially enjoyed attending their annual reunions, including the most recent gathering last November in Williamsburg, Va. Mr. Porter worked for more than 25 years locally for General Telephone Co. (now Verizon), including many years each as an installer/repairman and service center employee. He was a PIAA wrestling, baseball and softball official and an umpire for the Franklin Little League and District 25 Little League. He retired from calling balls and strikes in 2004 after serving more than 20 years as the District 25 umpiring representative. Mr. Porter enjoyed the wonder of God's creation, especially when his children and grandchildren joined him for hunting and fishing trips, mostly in the great outdoors close to home. His favorite excursion was in June 2006 when he treated his four children to a trip for smallmouth and largemouth bass fishing on fabled Lake Champlain in Vermont. He was especially active during Pennsylvania's 2007 deer season, which turned out to be his last. He was in the woods on seven of 12 days, all on a new hunting ground, a Polk area tract of land owned by his very dear friends Chuck and Shelly Thoma. He did not fill his many tags the past season, but he considered it a success anyway because several loved ones bagged deer, and, most importantly, because three generations of his family were together again in the variously rain-swept, sun-drenched and snow-covered woodlands not far from home. Mr. Porter was a rabid fan of Pittsburgh's professional sports teams, especially the Steelers and Penguins. He eagerly coordinated get-togethers of family and friends for Steelers playoff games and attended many Penguins games with loved ones. Known and loved by literally hundreds of people in local communities, he also was renowned for joining his morning coffee mates at Franklin McDonalds; for the family picnics he helped arrange at Two Mile Run County Park; for regaling the wait staff at local restaurants; for enjoying the music of Barry Manilow; and for adorning his many friends and acquaintances with colorful nicknames. Always the standup guy, he reacted to his recent cancer diagnosis with great dignity, and faithfully kept to his treatment plan even though there were days when it would have been easier not to. Survivors include three sons and their wives: Chris and Cindy Porter of Franklin, Nelson and Jan Porter of Rocky Grove, and Kevin Porter of Rocky Grove, and a daughter, Valerie Porter and her fianc? Tim Mackin of Carnegie. Also surviving are eight grandchildren, Christopher and Hillary Porter Danz of Chapel Hill, N.C.; Mark Porter and Amy Porter of Franklin; Nicholas, Madison and Mickenzie Porter of Rocky Grove; and Shyler Gill of Prospect. He also was regarded as a grandfather to many other young people, including his own grandchildren's friends, some of whom reside as far away as Philadelphia and Tulsa, Okla., where his grandchildren attend college. Many of his grandchildren lovingly knew him as "G-pa." He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Gordon "Crunk" Porter, who died in April 2002. Friends may call from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Monday and Tuesday at Gardinier Funeral Home. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Grace United Methodist Church of Rocky Grove with the Rev. Ed Gresick, pastor, officiating. Interment will be in Sunset Hill Memorial Gardens. Individuals who wish to make memorial contributions may give to Grace United Methodist Church of Rocky Grove, 350 Front St., Franklin, 16323, or the Franklin Little League Association "Field of Dreams," P.O. Box 173, Franklin, 16323.
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Po Porter is an absolute gentleman. When I lived in Franklin, Po made sure I always had umpires for the Rocky Grove Legion team.
Bob Porter will always remain a very significant and important figure in my life. He was a friend of my Dad’s and a wonderful and delightfull person in every aspect of his life.
I will miss you, Po and will always remember you as a gentleman and a fantastic umpire.
Highest regards
Tom Barnes