Donald Ray Porter

Donald Ray Porter, LCDR, USN (Ret), 84, of Pensacola died June 16, 2013 at 1:00 A.M. at Sacred Heart Hospital. He was born on September 8, 1928 in Rowan County, Salisbury, NC. Don and his wife moved to Pensacola on September 14, 2001 from Ramer, Tennessee. He enlisted in the Navy in September 1947 after attending North Carolina State in Raleigh, NC for two years. He served proudly in the Navy for 28 years, retiring as a Lieutenant Commander. He married Barbara Ann Powell of Salisbury, NC at the Navy Chapel, NAS Anacostia, Washington, D.C. on April 16, 1949. Together they enjoyed traveling and living in the new places where they were stationed while in the Navy: N.A.S. Washington D.C., U.S.S. Wasp, CV-18; (He was aboard the Wasp when it collided with the U.S.S. Hobson in the North Atlantic on April 26, 1952). Among other places were VP-49 Bermuda (6 yrs.), VAH-5 Sanford, Florida, VP-45 Bermuda, N.A.S. Millington, TN, Naval Air Station, Midway Island, VXN-8 Patuxent River, MD, NAMTRAGRU, Millington, TN before retiring April 1, 1975. After retiring, he and Ann built their retirement home on a 110 acre farm in Ramer, McNairy County, TN. After settling in, he went to work for the McNairy County Sheriff’s Dept. in Selmer, TN. He was preceded in death by his mother, Elizabeth Porter Smith. He is survived by his wife, Ann. They were married 64 years. Also surviving children, Donna Ann Knott (Larry), Janet Elizabeth Davis (Darrell), and David Edwin Porter (Mary); four grandchildren, Clark Welborn, Jarred Welborn, Jeremy Porter and Erin Porter Drury and eight great-grandchildren. Visitation will be held on Friday, July 26, 2013 from 10:30am until 11:30am at Redeemer Lutheran Church, 333 Commerce Street, Pensacola, FL. Memorial services will be at 11:30am, Friday, July 26, 2013 at Redeemer Lutheran Church with Pastor Chris Cole and Reverend Robert Rupp officiating. Committal service will be held the same day at Barrancas National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers memorials can be made to the Sacred Heart Foundation, %Camp Bluebird, Don Porter, 5151 N. 9th Avenue, Suite 260, Pensacola, FL, 32504 and The Gideons International, Pensacola East Camp, P.O. Box 7197, Pensacola, FL, 32534-0197. FAITH CHAPEL FUNERAL HOME SOUTH, 100 Beverly Parkway, Pensacola, FL is in charge of arrangements. You may express your condolences online at www.fcfhs.com.

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Donald Ray Porter

September 8, 1928 - June 16, 2013