Barbara Lee Porter Pietroforte

March 28, 1931- October 30, 2015

Barbara Porter Pietroforte, 84 years of age, passed away at home surrounded by her loving family and friends.

This was the day that God came to take Barbara home.

She was born on March 28th, 1931 to Robert and Helen Porter of Visalia. The Porter family had a dairy ranch northwest of Visalia where Barbara learned how to saddle and ride horses along with some chores she did around the ranch.

Barbara was a beautiful soul who dearly loved her family. She was always ready to tackle and complete any task that was put before her by her husband or her children.

During her young years, she attended Willow Elementary School which still stands on the northwest corner of Giddings and Riggins Road. After graduating, she attended Visalia Union High School graduating in 1949. Her education did not stop there. Her goal was to attend COS and work toward the AA Degree in business.

With her training as a secretary, she was employed by the Mosely Auto Insurance Company as secretary and transcriber. When the office closed, she applied for a position as assistant librarian at College of the Sequoias and was employed there for at least 6 years before retiring.

Barbara was not one to sit on her hands because she wanted to continue to be active. She wanted to be of some service to the community so she volunteered to help at the Visalia Emergency Aid where she spent 25 years helping poor families with food, clothing, and toys for tots at Christmas.

Both AI, her husband, and Barbara belonged to the Tulare Horseless Carriage Club and the Valley Region Chevrolet Clubs. Together, we enjoyed many years of touring up and down the state of California in our 1913 Model T Ford or our 1928 Chevrolet Touring. Those were precious times being together on the road.

Barbara is survived by her husband, Alfred Pietroforte, in a marriage of 64 years, her three children, Michelle Duvall, Marc Pietroforte, Jeanette Brichta, two grandsons, Max and Logan Brichta, her sister Betty Irving, brothers-in-law, Joe Pietroforte, Nick Pietroforte, Michael Pietroforte, sister-in-law, Ang Bianco.

We have learned that for everything there is a season, and what a beautiful and productive season Barbara has had in her lifetime with her work, her family and friends. "We begin to remember not just that she died, but that she lived a life that gave us memories too beautiful to forget." Wherever you are, you will always be in our hearts.

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to Cure Alzheimer’s Fund by visiting www.cureals.org.

Visitation will be held at Miller Memorial Chapel of Visalia on Wednesday, Nov. 4th from 4 to 7 p.m. and a Life Celebration Service will be held at St. Paul Anglican Church, 120 N. Hall, Visalia on Thursday, Nov. 5th at 11 a.m.

Tributes and condolences may be made at www.millerchapel.com.

Arrangements entrusted to Miller Memorial Chapel, 1120 West Goshen Avenue, Visalia, CA 93291 (559) 732-8371.