Truitt Paul Porter

 Truitt Paul Porter, Jr. was born in Little Rock on August 5, 1939, to Nell and Truitt Paul Porter, Sr.

He excelled in athletics at Cabot High School, received numerous football scholarships, and chose to become a Ouachita Tiger. While swimming on the Caddo River one Saturday, he was introduced to a new student, Marineal Freeman from Stuttgart. A broken bottle, partially buried in the sand, was hazardous so Paul threw it across the bend in the river into a trash barrel. The result was his lacerated hand and his friends rushing him to an ER. On a positive note, this incident was the evolution that led to his 64-year marriage.

Before entering his junior year, Paul interviewed and was hired to work in Washington DC for Senator John McClelland. He enrolled in George Washington University and continued his pursuit for a Business/Economics degree. 

After Marineal’s UofA graduation, she and Paul married and established their first home in Arlington, VA. When moving back to Stuttgart, they first welcomed Kelli Anne (Culler, Dallas, TX) and later Michael Freeman Porter (Fayetteville). Both grandparents were elated years later over the birth of their only grandchild, Saige Camille Culler (Malibu, CA).

Paul wore numerous caps: Christian, farmer, pilot, artist, cyclist, conservationist, field trial trainer/winner, lover of classical music and Broadway show tunes, and unfortunately for over four years as a victim of Alzheimer’s. 

We pray you will embrace us in a celebration of life service to be held at 2 p.m. on Sunday, December 1, in First Baptist Stuttgart’s activity center. 

Memorials may be made to the church’s Celebrate Recovery Ministry, 2115 South Prairie, Stuttgart, 72160 or Arkansas Alzheimer’s Association, 201 Markham Center Dr., Little Rock, AR 72205.