OAK HARBOR, OH
Jay Edward Porter passed away peacefully the morning of March 14, 2023 in Columbia, TN. He was born in Natrona Heights, Pennsylvania to the late Dorothy Louise Leanord (Buckley) and William Edward Porter on April 6th, 1937.
His family moved to Los Angeles, California at a young age. He grew up working at his dad’s gas station and graduated from Santa Monica High School in 1955. He was drafted to the Army and served 2 years. He met his wife Ilene at the Methodist Church in Santa Barbara, California. She made him lemon merengue pie and he was hooked. They married shortly after on October 24, 1964. Jay went back to school and graduated from Cal Poly with a Bachelor of Science at the age of 28. The couple ended up raising their 4 boys in Oak Harbor, Ohio.
Jay was very proud of his boys and worked hard to give them what they needed. He was the kind of person that would stop on the side of the road to help someone with their flat tire. He enjoyed taking his boys to the five and dime to get candy after church. One Sunday afternoon he went to buy a newspaper and there was a shop lifter running on the sidewalk. Jay ran after the man and tackled him and kept him subdued until the police came.
He was an avid church goer and enjoyed teaching children’s bible study at St. Paul United Church of Christ in Oak Harbor, OH and helping out in the Love Pantry, the local Christian food pantry in Columbus, IN. Jay was very outgoing, showed no fear and was brutally honest. But most of all, he was a devoted husband to his wife Ilene for 57 years and a proud and dedicated father to his 4 sons.
Jay is survived by his children Edward, David, Aaron and Jason Porter, his 14 grandchildren and 8 great grandchildren his brothers Bud Bergstrom, Wayne Bergstrom, Gene Raymond Porter and his sister Cathy Paula.
He is preceded in death by his beloved wife Ilene and his sisters Judy Scinto and Karen Giacopozi.
Visitation will be Friday March 24th from 4-7 at Robinson-Walker Funeral Home, 165 E. Water St., Oak Harbor, OH. and a graveside service will be conducted on Saturday March 25 at 12 pm at Salem Township Union Cemetery.
Donations in memory of Jay can be sent to the Alzheimer’s Association. Online condolences may be shared with the family at www.walkerfuneralhomes.com.
