Horace Porter's Obituary
Bob was born on January 21, 1922 in Richmond, VA to Ella Atwell Porter and Horace Rodman Porter. He passed away peacefully at home on February 20, 2014. He was 92 years old. He was preceded in death by his sister Jane Porter Elliot. Bob is survived by his loving wife of 65 years, Wilburta Marie Smith, sons Wilbert “Bill” Porter of Granite Bay and Bruce Porter of Roseville, grandsons Christopher and Derek Porter and great grandson Christopher Jr.
Bob served in both the US Navy and the US Army during WWII. He worked as a B-26 Marauder test pilot at Glen L. Martin CO. in Baltimore, MD and was a commercial airline pilot for 30 years as a Captain in DC4’s, DC6’s, DC7’s, DC8’s Boeing 707’s and Boeing 720’s.
In 1948 Bob met the love of his life Wilburta Marie Smith while giving her flying lessons at Lincoln Airport in Lincoln, CA. They married in May of 1949 and spent 65 wonderful years together. Bob and Marie started and ran an Aerial Photography business for 20 years in Sacramento. In 1980 Bob helped form Farm Air Flying Service Inc., a crop dusting business in Sacramento with partners John Warner and his son Bill Porter. After retirement, Bob travelled the United States with his wife Marie in their Motor home. Bob was an avid hunter and fisherman and spent many family vacations at the Flying B Ranch in Salmon, ID. One of Bob’s proudest moments was being awarded the Pioneer in Aviation Award by General Jimmy Doolittle. The family would like to say a special thank you to his caregiver Jodie Claussen, for your love and attention.
Family and friends will be invited to a Celebration of Bob’s Life at a later date.
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