Obituary for Ralph Stanley Porter
Ralph S. Porter, 67, of Battle Creek, died suddenly at home on April 30, 2022.
Ralph was born May 2, 1954, to William and Rachel (Hunn) Porter in Portsmouth VA, where his father was stationed in the U.S. Navy. The family moved frequently until Bill retired from the Navy, and they built a home in Battle Creek.
Ralph attended Harper Creek Schools, and the Calhoun Area Technology Center, in the Automotive program. It was there that he met and eventually married Ann Detweiler in 1975. Although they later divorced, they remained friends.
He is survived by two children, Noah (Jess) Porter of Columbus Ohio, and Jessica (Eric) Malinowski of Hudsonville MI; five grandchildren, Alex and Grayson Porter, and Naomi, Owen and Sam Malinowski; a sister-in-law, Jean Porter; brother-in-law, Duane Fritz, and many nieces and nephews. Ralph was preceded in death by his parents, and all of his siblings.
Ralph started his career in auto mechanics, working in several dealerships in Battle Creek. He later went on to work at Stryker, as an Electro-Mechanical Assembly Tech, retiring in 2019. He always enjoyed tinkering and fixing mechanical devices of all sorts. Ralph was always a ‘people person’ with a warm sense of humor and a fondness for good stories. He genuinely enjoyed helping others and was always ready to lend a hand. He was an avid rockhound and loved spending time up north around Lake Superior, looking for special stones.
Cremation has taken place and a private memorial service will be held at a later date. Memorial contributions may be made to the Battle Creek Community Foundation, Rebecca Porter Scholarship Fund, for Nursing education.
Arrangements entrusted to the Baxter Funeral and Cremation Service, 269-788-9800. www.baxterfuneral.com
Ralph was born May 2, 1954, to William and Rachel (Hunn) Porter in Portsmouth VA, where his father was stationed in the U.S. Navy. The family moved frequently until Bill retired from the Navy, and they built a home in Battle Creek.
Ralph attended Harper Creek Schools, and the Calhoun Area Technology Center, in the Automotive program. It was there that he met and eventually married Ann Detweiler in 1975. Although they later divorced, they remained friends.
He is survived by two children, Noah (Jess) Porter of Columbus Ohio, and Jessica (Eric) Malinowski of Hudsonville MI; five grandchildren, Alex and Grayson Porter, and Naomi, Owen and Sam Malinowski; a sister-in-law, Jean Porter; brother-in-law, Duane Fritz, and many nieces and nephews. Ralph was preceded in death by his parents, and all of his siblings.
Ralph started his career in auto mechanics, working in several dealerships in Battle Creek. He later went on to work at Stryker, as an Electro-Mechanical Assembly Tech, retiring in 2019. He always enjoyed tinkering and fixing mechanical devices of all sorts. Ralph was always a ‘people person’ with a warm sense of humor and a fondness for good stories. He genuinely enjoyed helping others and was always ready to lend a hand. He was an avid rockhound and loved spending time up north around Lake Superior, looking for special stones.
Cremation has taken place and a private memorial service will be held at a later date. Memorial contributions may be made to the Battle Creek Community Foundation, Rebecca Porter Scholarship Fund, for Nursing education.
Arrangements entrusted to the Baxter Funeral and Cremation Service, 269-788-9800. www.baxterfuneral.com