Walter Arthur Porter

PORTER, Walter A., age 91, a native Daytonian, died on August 6, 2015. Mr. Porter was a 1941 graduate of Fairmont High School. He attended the University of Cincinnati, receiving degrees in Engineering (1948) and Law (1949). He was a member of Alpha Tau Omega Fraternity and was past president of its Delta Lambda Chapter at the University of Cincinnati. He was a decorated combat infantryman in World War II, serving with the 44th Infantry Division in the European Theater of Operations, being awarded four battle stars, two bronze stars and the Purple Heart. He was awarded the French Legion of Honor by the French Government for his actions in the Alsace-Lorraine are of France in the winter of 1944. This is the highest award for valor granted to a non-French national. He practiced law in and around Dayton for more than 50 years, being associated with the law firms of Smith & Schnacke and ThompsonHine. He was also a retired Montgomery County Common Pleas Court Judge. He was past president of the Ohio State Legal Services Association, the Ohio State Bar Association, the Ohio State Bar Foundation, and the Dayton Bicycle Club. He was a longtime Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers. He served as Chairman of the Board of Eastway Corporation and the Dayton Area Heart and Cancer Association. He served as Trustee of the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra Association and the Dayton Lawyers Club. He was a member of the 49 Club, Dayton Lodge F&AM and Westminster Presbyterian Church. He is survived by two sons, Scott (and his wife, Carol) and David; two grandchildren, Kelly (Dean) Wilson, and Ryan (Lauren) Porter, and three great-grandchildren, Sophia, Marian and Corbin Wilson. He is also survived by a beloved nephew, Sam (Vicky) Tuten. His wife of 66 years, Patricia, predeceased him in 2013. A memorial service will be held at 11:00am on Friday, September 11, 2015 at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 125 N Wilkinson St., Dayton with a reception to follow in the church social hall. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Eastway Corporation, 600 Wayne Ave., Dayton, OH 45410.