~ IN MEMORY ~
Vietnam war veteran, DL Capt. Pat Kelley Porter
February 2, 1939 - January 30, 2014
Notification with the passing of DL Captain Pat Kelley Porter,
age 74. Captain Porter joined Delta Air Lines 05-03-1965 and retired in
February 1997, based 030/PDX.
Survived by his wife Emily personal condolences may be sent to
2033 Arbor Bend St., Bonham TX 75418-2741 ... (903)
583-8166
Services will be held Sunday, February 2nd, in Bonham
TX.
Thank you,
~ Carol
~ Carol
Pat Kelley Porter, 74, of Bonham, passed away on Thursday,
January 30, 2014, at Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas, surrounded by
his family and friends. Pat was born in Ector, Texas on Feb 2, 1939. He was the
oldest son of Earl Douglas & Bonnie Kelley Porter. Pat grew up in Ector,
attending school in Bonham and graduating from high school in 1957 with a
football scholarship to Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, OK. During
college he participated in R.O.T.C where he earned his private pilot
certificate, leading to his lifelong career in aviation. He graduated from OSU
in 1961 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business. He was married to his
high school sweetheart, Emily Mae Bales, on Jan. 21, 1961. After graduating from
OSU, Pat joined the US Army, Transportation Division. A 1st Lieutenant, he flew
the DH-4C Caribou and earned the air medal for his service during the Vietnam
War. Pat began his 32-year career with Delta Airlines in 1965, first flying the
C46, cargo plane. He advanced rapidly through his career with Delta, flying the
L100, DC9, DC8, Boeing 727, 757 and 767. In February 1997 Pat retired as Captain
of the MD11. During Pat’s career with Delta he flew throughout the United States
& Canada as well as overseas to England, Amsterdam, Japan, Korea, Thailand
and China. Pat was a member of the First Baptist Church of Bonham, the Army
Otter-Caribou Association, Bonham City Council, the Bonham Industrial Foundation
and the Bonham Airport Board. He served as President of the Bonham Water
Authority, the Civitan and was Chairman of the local United Way Fund. Pat is
survived by his wife of 53 years, Emily Bales Porter of Bonham; their three
sons, Mike Porter & Dana of Bonham, Myles Porter & Lisa of Bonham and
Kyle Porter and fiancé, Alice Mitchell of Dallas; four grandchildren, Katy
Porter, Sam Porter, Luke Porter and Jack Porter; one brother Lonny Porter &
wife Bunnye of Arlington and niece Sarah Lowry and Tim Lowry of Aledo. He was
preceded in death by his parents, Earl Douglas Porter and Bonnie Kelley Porter.
A memorial service will be held at 11:00 AM, Monday, February 3, 2014, at First
Baptist Church, 710 N. Center St., Bonham Texas. Interment with military honors
will follow at Willow Wild Cemetery, Hwy. 121, Bonham. Visitation is 2:00 - 4:00
PM on Sunday, February 2, 2014, at Wise Funeral Home, 219 West Sam Rayburn Dr.,
Bonham Texas. Morgan Malone will officiate. Pallbearers will be Bobby McCraw,
Larry Moss, Talmage Moore, Sam Porter, Ben Lawrence and Ed Gray. Honorary
Pallbearers will be Billy Rater, John Jones, Leonard Gerner, Aubrey Conley,
Chuck Gardner, Tommy Keeton, Sidney Hale and J.D. Atchley. Memorials may be made
to the Powder Creek Park. Online guest register www.wisefuneralhome.com
I flew with Pat as a new hire in 1978. I absolutely loved him. As a new hire, I worried every time I turned
ReplyDeletearound. When he told me about Pawnee Okla....I just wanted to fly with him forever.....since I was from
Shidler Okla!!! And he played football, if my memory serves me still, at OSU...he was my FAVORITE CAPT....
not because he was from Okla ....because HE was just a total class act , from the way he flew the jet to the
way he treated everyone working under him on the airplane. He taught me alot in the few times I was lucky enough
to fly with him. Godspeed on your final flight west, Pat.
jrgarrison1@verizon.net