John Winton Porter, age 78, of Bangs passed away on July 27, 2023. A memorial service and celebration of John’s life will be held on Saturday, August 19, 2023, at 2:00 p.m. at Bangs First Baptist Church.
He was born on September 10, 1944, in Newport, Arkansas, the son of Winton Bryan Porter of Excel, Alabama and Susan Elizabeth Frizzell of Bradford, Arkansas. His parents met and married while his father was stationed at the Army Air Corps base in Newport during World War II. After the War, the family settled in Little Rock, Arkansas. John was a graduate of Little Rock Central High School and the University of Arkansas, with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. Following a stint in the U.S. Army, John went to work at the newly built IBM Plant in Austin, Texas.
There he met his wife, Sue Kingsbery, originally from Santa Anna, and the couple were married at Hyde Park Baptist Church on June 23, 1979.
John retired from IBM with 30 years of service, then worked for Spectra Consulting Engineers in Austin, designing and overseeing construction of microchip plants in the U.S. and Canada. After retiring from Spectra, John and Sue moved to Central Texas and resided north of Bangs.
A lifelong outdoorsman and hunter, John pursued big game in Montana, whitetails in south Texas, and enjoyed dove, quail, and turkey hunting on the Kingsbery ranch in Coleman County. He loved prairie dog hunting with his Austin friends, and attending gun shows throughout the state. He was a proud Endowment Member of the National Rifle Association, and a Life Member of the Texas State Rifle Association.
John is survived by his wife, Sue; two daughters, Diana and husband Brandon Johnson of Brownwood, and Mollie and husband Ross Pehl of Midland; also two grandchildren, Lacy and Jake Pehl, as well as cousins Billie Sue Watts and husband Bill of Garland, Janie Steen and husband Wally of Newport, Arkansas, and Max Shaw and wife, Barbara of Anson.
In lieu of flowers the family asks that contributions be made to Bangs FBC, or the charity of your choice. Online condolences, memories and tributes can be made to the family at www.heartlandfuneralhome.net
