Robert Eugene Porter

Born in Salem, Indiana at home with his maternal grandma assisting in the delivery. He was born to Robert “Bob” and Allene Porter. He was an only child. He joined the service, but was given a Honorable discharge (medical reasons). Received his AS in Electronics from UEL in Louisville, KY and started working at RCA in 1964 as an Electronics Technician. His dad was also an Electronic Technician. Married Jolene Miner in 1965 at Leota Baptist Church in Leota, Indiana. Robin was born in 1968 and Chris was born in 1971. He was a Ham radio operator, like his dad, and his call letter were WB9MJF. He was also a Volunteer Firemen for Van Buren Township when the family lived by Monroe Country airport. He later became a Volunteer Sheriff with Monroe County Sheriff Reserves and served for 30 years. When the family attended Bloomington Free Methodist Church he ran and repaired the sound system. He also went on several choir trips as a bus driver and sound system guy. He was a fan of science and us kids saw many cool things you could do with science. Our first satellite dish was from a metal snow saucer (ours) and a metal coffee can. He made the electronics to go into the can. We took turns holding into the sky and finally got a station. He made a fort for us. He bought a small tractor for us to drive. He brought home an old go cart from the dump and fixed so we could ride it. He always “tried” out our toys first on Christmas day so he made sure they worked. When Chris and I started to drive, he instructed us when something has to be fixed on our cars. He got to see both of us graduate from HS, college, and to get married. He had a small business, Bob Tronics, where he helped fix people’s TVs and later on put up Satellite dishes in the 1980’s. He and mom put up dishes together. He dug the hole, she made the concrete and they placed the pole in the hole together. He also helped mom buy her first beauty shop that she worked in when they were first married. He was always playing practical jokes on mom (jumping out at the rest stop, surprising her surprise lilies when he mowed them down). When Chris and I got married, he helped us with projects and visited in Cleveland, Ohio, Boise, Idaho, and Evansville, Indiana. When the grandchildren(Elizabeth, Emily, Robert, James, and Ethan) came along, they visited more often. He had a new audience for sharing his love of science and his funny dry humor. Through it all he loved people with his actions, had a good sense of dry humor, was never without a coffee, a soda, or a chocolate milk to drink, and left this world a better place because he was born. What a legacy we all have! A Memorial Service for Bob will be held on Saturday, August 11, 2018 at 1 p.m. with visitation from 12 noon until time of service in Lifeway Baptist Church, 7821 State Rd 46, Ellettsville, IN 47429 Online condolences may be given to the family at www.DeremiahFryeMortuary.com