Porter

Ralph J. Porter, 92, beloved husband and father, went home to be with the Lord on Wednesday from the St. John Care Center in Mars following a brief illness. He was surrounded by his family.

Born July 9, 1917, in Ellwood City, he was the son of the late F. Hollis and Kathryn Enslen Porter.

Mr. Porter retired in 1982 as the plant superintendent from Mathews Conveyor and Rexnord, where he worked for 46 years.

He was affiliated with the Portersville Bible Church.

Ralph graduated from the Muddy Creek Township and Portersville Borough Joint School in 1934. He was a board member and former president of the Slippery Rock Joint School District.

He enjoyed farming and fishing, but most of all he enjoyed his family.

Survivors include his wife of 72 years, Virginia Moore Porter of Porter Road, Portersville, Muddy Creek Township; a daughter, Waneata VanKirk Rowlands and a son, Ralph J. (Leona) Porter Jr., both of Portersville; a brother, Robert (Elaine) Porter of Franklin, N.C.; three grandchildren, Tammy (Gerald) Sharon, LaDawn VanKirk and Jason Porter; and three great-grandchildren, Chris, Brian and Jordan Sharon.

He was preceded in death by a brother, Charles Porter.

<B>PORTER</B> — Visiting hours for Ralph J. Porter, who died Wednesday, March 24, 2010, will be held from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Friday at the <B>Marshall Funeral Home, </B>200 Fountain Ave. Ellwood City. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at the funeral home with Pastor Michael Charles officiating. Interment will follow in Greenlawn Cemetery.Memorial contributions may be made to the Portersville Bible Church.Online condolences may be sent to marshallsfh.com.