John Frederick Porter

John was born on May 3, 1944 in Chicago, Illinois to H.M. (Duke) Porter. At age 2 his parents moved to Sarasota, Florida where he grew up and attended local schools. He then graduated from Auburn University in 1965 with a math major and chemistry and physics minors. After that he attended the University of Florida College of Law and the Jacksonville University Master of Arts Teachers Program. After UF, he taught math for a year in Jacksonville and then joined the Army. After initial training, John attended and graduated from the Field Artillery Officer Candidate School at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. He was stationed in Germany with an Honest John firing battery in Aschaffenburg. He met the love of his life, Anna Lenart and married her after a whirlwind courtship on April 29, 1972 (for the state) and May 6, 1972 (for the church). In May of 1972 they moved to Jacksonville where they have remained. John briefly resumed teaching math for a few more years. At the same time, he restarted his military career with the Florida Army National Guard, ultimately reaching the rank of full colonel after 30 years total service and 9.5 years of command time. John also graduated from the Naval War College seminar program. He enjoyed exercise, swimming, reading, sudoku, and golf. He was a life member of Alpha Tau Omega social fraternity and Delta Theta Phi legal fraternity. Additionally, John was a life member of the Association of the United States Army, The National Guard Officers Association, the Military Officers Association of America, and a graduate life member of the Naval War College Foundation. He was predeceased by his parents, his brother, Dr. David M. Porter, II and his infant sister, Marion Elizabeth Porter. He is survived by his loving wife, Anna Porter, his daughter, Christel Porter-Keefer (Gregg), his son, Dr. Michael Porter (Laura), his granddaughter, Zoe Porter-Keefer, and a nephew, David Segraves.

A Memorial Service will be held at 10:30 a.m.on Friday, October 11, 2024 at Corey-Kerlin Funeral Home, 940 Cesery Blvd. Burial will follow at Jacksonville National Cemetery with full military honors.