1938-2023
John Lynn Porter passed into his Heavenly father’s arms on Saturday, January 7, 2023, at 84, following a long illness of many factors. He was born on July 30, 1938, to Edwin and Marie Porter in El Reno, Oklahoma.
John grew up on a wheat farm in Oklahoma but soon learned his allergies needed to take him away from farming. He graduated high school with a football scholarship to Dartmouth. Quickly he decided he was not an Ivy Leaguer, so he returned to Oklahoma to attend OSU, where he was an Oklahoma Aggie. He graduated and went to Medical Technology School in Oklahoma City, where he worked at Mercy hospital. Then went on to Oklahoma Christian University in Edmond, Oklahoma, and graduated with plans to attend Baylor dental school in Dallas, Texas. After graduating in 1966 with his Doctor of Dental Surgery DDS, he decided to join the Army as Vietnam was in progress. He wanted to avoid setting up a practice and being pulled into service. So first, he went to Fort Polk, Louisiana, for basic training, then drew the pass to Vietnam. He worked from a tent as a dentist on the front lines of battle. Finally, that was over, and he opened a dental practice in Denison, Texas. Where he worked for almost 50 years, making many friends along the way. In 1962 he married Glenda Porter, and they had their first daughter, Tracy at Fort Polk, Louisiana. Then, on return from army Duty, they had a son Dallas in 1968 and a second daughter, Kerri, in 1973. John and Glenda recently had their 60th wedding anniversary on December 29, 2022.
John was in Denison Rotary club for many years and served a term as the president of the organization. He also received the Paul Harris award from the Rotary club.
John enjoyed his time with the coffee club boys where they “solved the world’s problems” on a daily basis.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Edwin and Marie Porter, his younger brother Ronnie, and his son Dallas.
John will be greatly missed by those he left behind.
John is survived by his wife, Glenda, two loving daughters, Tracy Romatowski and her husband Bobby, Kerri Massenburg and her husband Bryan, Dallas’s wife, Julie Porter and five wonderful grandchildren, Hayden and his wife Alyssa, and Elyse of Colorado, Conner, Landry, and Kaelie of Denison, and his two dogs Rose and Buckwheat.
If he had lived, he would soon be a great-grand Papa. He loved the children and was so proud of them.
The family wishes to thank all the many caregivers and nurses from Home Instead and Home hospice of Grayson County who lovingly cared for John.
In lieu of flowers the family requests donations to Home Hospice of Grayson County and Waples United Memorial Methodist Church of Denison.
Memorial service will be held on Thursday, January 12, 2023, 11:00 am at Waples United Memorial Methodist Church of Denison, located at 830 W. Main St., Denison, Texas.
Friends and family are welcome to gather at Fisher Funeral Home, 604 West Main, Denison Texas on Wednesday, January 11, 2023 from the hours of 5:00 pm 7:00 pm.
John will be laid to rest at the Fairview Cemetery in Denison, Texas.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Fisher Funeral Home
Condolences can be registered at www.fisherfh.com
