Robert E. Porter of Crawfordsville passed away Tuesday, March 5, 2013 at his home following a courageous battle with cancer. He was 79 years old.
He was born July 11, 1933 in Chicago to the late Eugene Stanley and Virginia (Pigman) Porter. He grew up in Rensselaer and graduated from Rensselaer High School in 1951. He served in the US Army from 1953 to 1955 attaining the rank of Corporal and had been stationed in Hannau, Germany. In 1957 he graduated from Chicago Technical College with a Bachelor of Architectural Engineering degree. Bob married Mary Jane Taulman on June 23, 1957 at the First Baptist Church, Monon, Indiana and they would have celebrated their 56th wedding anniversary this summer. They have been blessed with a son R. Scott Porter and daughters Laura L. Carter (husband Steve) and Sandra K. Phelps all residing in Crawfordville; and grandchildren Rob Crowell (wife Nikki) of Wauconda, IL, Sean Carter, Corey Porter, Kyle Porter, and Ashley Phelps of Crawfordsville, and Megan Porter of Terre Haute.
A brother John A. Porter is deceased.
Mr. Porter was a licensed architect in the state of Illinois being employed by Wonder Builders of Chicago; Kreugel, Healy, and Moore of Joliet; and Turner, Witt, and Moline of Kankakee. After becoming a licensed architect in the state of Indiana he moved his family from Park Forest, Illinois to Crawfordsville in 1966 and opened the office of Porter, Turner, Witt and Moline. In 1968 he became sole owner of Robert E. Porter and Associates, Architect, from which he retired in 2000.
He was a member and past president of Sigma Phi Delta Fraternity, past member of the Crawfordsville Kiwanis Club, a member of the Indiana Society of Architects, and a member Emeritus of the American Institute of Architects.
Mr. Porter was a member of First Baptist Church since 1967 and had served as a Deacon and on the Board of Trustees.
In his younger years, he enjoyed playing the alto sax in Jimmy Hill's Orchestra which played for many proms and dances – including a Crawfordsville High School prom. He was a die-hard Cub fan for 68 years – since he was 12 years old. A highlight of his life was being invited to Wrigley Field in 1952 to try out for a position in the Cubs minor league organization. However, he was drafted into the Armed Forces and was not able to fulfill this dream.
Visitation will be held Saturday, March 9, 2013, at First Baptist Church, Crawfordsville, 1905 Lebanon Road from 12 noon to 2 p.m. A memorial service will follow at 2:30 p.m. with Pastor Isaac Zull officiating.
Funeral arrangements are entrusted to Hunt and Son Funeral Home with interment at Oak Hill Cemetery North.
Memorial gifts may be given to the Dr. Mary Ludwig Free Clinic (formerly Christian Nursing Service/Well Baby Clinic) through the Montgomery County Community Foundation, P.O. Box 334, Crawfordsville, IN 47933.