Norman Porter Sr.

OXFORD – Norman S. Porter Sr., 81, of Howarth Road, died Thursday, July 17, 2008, at UMass Memorial Medical Center – Memorial Campus, surrounded by his family. He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Eva M. (Gage) Porter of Oxford; four children, Verna L. Freeman of Oxford, Glenda M. Hatch and her fiancé Michael Mazzilli of Worcester, Norman S. Porter Jr. of Oxford, and Keri J. Porter of Oxford; a brother, Arthur Porter of Belfast, ME; seven grandchildren, eleven great grandchildren, two great-great grandchildren, and many nephews and nieces. He was predeceased by a brother, Laurence Porter; and a sister, Edith Prescott. He was born in Waltham, the son of the late Laurence and Stella (McComb) Porter, and lived in Waltham and Bolton before moving to Oxford 61 years ago. He was a U.S. Navy veteran of World War II, where he went into Nagasaki, Japan, after the bomb was dropped to rescue New Zealand prisoners of war. Mr. Porter was a truck driver for Harry T. Campbell and Sons in Oxford for many years, retiring in 1976. He was a lifetime member of the V.F.W. in Belfast, Maine, and enjoyed working on cars in his spare time. A military graveside service will be held at 11 a.m. on Monday, July 21, 2008, at North Cemetery, Main Street, Oxford, with the Oxford Memorial Honor Guard participating. There are no calling hours. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105. Paradis Funeral Home, 357 Main St., Oxford, is directing the arrangements.