Barbara Ann Porter

Ann Porter 1929-2018 Ann Porter, 88, of Pensacola. FL. passed away Friday, May 18, 2018. She was a member of Redeemer Lutheran Church of Pensacola. She was a active member of Redeemer Lutheran Women’s Missionary League. She is preceded in death by her husband, LCDR Donald R. Porter, USN Ret. 1928-2013; father, Edwin A. Powell, Salisbury, N.C.; mother, Ruth Leith Sides, Salisbury, N.C.; sisters, Helen Duggan, St. Petersburg, FL and Gales Roan, Raleigh, N.C. She is survived by her daughters, Donna Porter Knott (Larry), Birmingham, AL and Janet Porter Davis (Darrell), Silverdale, WA and son, David E. Porter (Mary), Nashville, TN; grandchildren, Clark Welborn, Jarred Welborn, Jeremy Porter and Erin Porter Drury, eleven great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to The Gideons International, P.O. Box 10382, Pensacola, FL 32524 or Sacred Heart’s Camp Bluebird, 9840 Beulah Road, Pensacola, FL 32526 in Ann’s memory. Memorial Service will be Friday, June 15, 2018 at 12:00 p.m. at Redeemer Lutheran Church with Pastor Robert G. Rupp and Pastor Christopher Cole officiating with a visitation beginning at 11:30 a.m. Inurnment will follow at Barrancas National Cemetery at 1:30 p.m. FAITH CHAPEL FUNERAL HOME SOUTH, 100 Beverly Pkwy, is in entrusted with the arrangements. You may express your condolences online at www.fcfhs.com More about Ann... Ann was attending nursing school when soon to be husband, Don Porter joined the Navy. They were married in April of 1949, after his enlistment and basic training. They then moved to Washington, DC which was the beginning of the 28 years she was a Navy wife, before Don’s retirement. Of the many duty stations in their years together, Ann loved Bermuda the most. At the beginning of his career, Don was stationed with two different squadrons in Bermuda which covered almost 9 years. Bermuda became her favorite place in the world and her memories of life, husband, and family there, stayed with her forever. With Ann at his side throughout his career, Don ultimately retired at NAS Millington, TN (Memphis) on April 1, 1975. At this time, Ann and Don moved to Ramer, McNairy County, TN, where they settled on a 110 acre “farm” and built their dream home. Ann went to work for the McNairy County Hospital as a technician until her retirement. Ann loved the peacefulness of the farm, but loved even more being part of Don’s passion for it and the community around them. Ann and Don became members of Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Corinth, MS. While members there, Ann served as Project Director for the church’s new sanctuary build. She took great pride serving in this capacity and also in the fact that due to her tenacity and attention to detail, the project came in under budget. Once the new sanctuary was completed and dedicated, Ann launched a new idea with Don, which would impact the new sanctuary’s history. Ann created and opened a community thrift store which had been approved to be housed at the church. Don was fully on board. She pledged that ALL proceeds and monies raised from the operation would be used to pay off the mortgage on the new church sanctuary… And they DID!! Ann traveled extensively with Don and in the 90’s they began visiting the Pensacola area regularly, especially in Winter. It didn’t take long for them to begin eyeing Pensacola as a more permanent spot to live. They soon bought a cottage and going to Pensacola for a few months each winter became more of their regular pattern of living. In 2001, the decision was made to make Pensacola their permanent home. They sold the farm and their home in Ramer, TN and with the help of family, they moved to Pensacola on 9/11/2001 which became not only a memorable date for them, but also an historic date for our country. Ann and Don soon joined Redeemer Lutheran Church in Pensacola and became active in the community. Ann joined the Lutheran Women’s Missionary League (LWML) and served for a period as the group’s leader. She loved helping Donna in the church office with bulletins on Fridays and also assisting the Church Treasurer count the offering. She then had opportunity to follow her own previously successful footsteps, when she and a small team of women became the leaders for the planning and building the new kitchen for the church and school. Not without its challenges, Ann took great pride serving in this capacity and with the help of her team the project was completed successfully. Waffle House was a standard breakfast spot for Ann and Don. They always treated and held the staff as their own family. When Ann’s house was flooded and had to be rebuilt in 2012, she lived at the Suburban Hotel in Pensacola for more than 8 months. The staff of the hotel became Ann’s extended family and she held them as such and cherished their faithfulness and friendship until the end of her life. Ann’s favorite flowers were Alstromeria. Ann was always a caregiver by nature and found great joy in helping others and she had a deeply benevolent heart. I can state to you that Ann Porter not only loved her church, but she also loved the Lord and knew His walk. She frequently stated so, especially in the last weeks of her life and loved to witness her faith to others. We will miss you, Ann… (Mom)!

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Barbara Ann Porter

December 24, 1929 - May 18, 2018