Howard Franklin Porter, III, 86, of Gaston, was called home on Wednesday, April 17, 2019 from Transitions Life Care Hospice in Raleigh.

He was born February 25, 1933, in Baltimore, MD, to the late Howard Franklin Porter, Jr and Ida May Shoemaker Porter.

Howard grew up in Baltimore, and graduated from Kenwood High School.  After high school he served in the United States Army from 1951 to 1955.

Mr. Porter was a lifelong member of the VFW Post 262 in Essex, MD.  He was an active member of the NRA. He enjoyed dancing and was a member of USA Dance, Inc., Rocky Mount and the Roanoke Rapids Singles Club.

Survivors include his children, Patricia Klima and her husband Robert, Shirley Porter, Howard Porter IV and his wife Michelle, Stuart Porter, and Kelly Lyons and her husband Scott; 8 grandchildren; 4 great-grandchildren; and siblings, Rev. Dr. Edward Porter and his wife Brenda, Carol Kankosky, and Patricia Puccini.

The family will receive friends from 6 – 8 pm Friday at Hockaday Funeral and Cremation Service.  

The funeral service will be held at 11 am Saturday in the chapel of Hockaday Funeral and Cremation Service with Pastor Jeremy Kobernat officiating.  Interment, with military honors, will follow in Cedarwood Cemetery.

Online condolences may be left at hockadayfs.com

Memorial contributions may be made to the Gaston Volunteer Fire Department, 210 Old Emporia Rd, Gaston, NC 27832.

Arrangements are under the care of Hockaday Funeral and Cremation Service.