Obituary: Billy Frank Porter

Billy Frank Porter, 93, of Mansfield passed away on Wednesday, May 3, 2023. He was born Aug. 27, 1929, in Tyler, Texas, to Lloyd Franklin Porter and Ida Gertrude Jordan Porter.

Bill graduated from Tyler High School in 1947. He grew up with a younger brother, James Rudolph Porter, and a sister, Judy Katherine Porter. During high school, he worked for the local grocery and rose factory. Bill then joined the United States Navy on Sept. 7, 1948, in Dallas, and he received an honorable discharge Aug. 11, 1952. He completed service as a Petty Officer 2nd Class Aviation Machine Mate. Bill was assigned to the Naval Ship USS Wright SVL-49 (Aircraft Carrier), where he would first visit Newport, Rhode Island, New York City, Key West and Pensacola, Fla. The ship then sailed by Bermuda and docked at Ports of Gibraltar, Spain, Oran, Algeria and Palermo, Sicily. Next stop was Stromboli and the Straits of Messina. Also, at some point, Bill would be sailor mates with his brother Rudy Porter. Next were Ports of Souda Bay, Crete, Beirut, Lebanon and Naples, Italy. The Mediterranean Tour finished in Monaco and Nice, France. Then Bill was discharged at Quonset Point, Rhode Island.

After the Navy, Bill went to work for Vought in Dallas as an aviation mechanic. Vought eventually became Northrop Grumman. While working for Vought, he took some classes at Texas Christian University. In September 1955, Bill married Movel Lee Wilson. On June 16, 1956, their son Frankie Lee was born. Then soon after, Vought asked them to move to Maryland for at least a year. Eventually, Bill was laid off from Vought during a company buyout.

Bill started a new career in the insurance field and became a claims adjuster for several companies over the years. They moved to Grand Prairie in the early 60's. Then in September 1964, they adopted their daughter, Sharon Renee' Porter from Hope Cottage in Dallas.

In the late 90's, Bill retired as an independent insurance specialist working for litigation firms.

Bill and Movel Porter have been members of First United Methodist Church in Mansfield since 2009. The years before that their memberships were at First United Methodist and Inglewood United Methodist, both of Grand Prairie. Bill and Movel Porter enjoyed church, square dancing, camping and cruises. He also did a lot of hunting, fishing, and especially football games. He was a huge Texas and Cowboys fan. Later in life, many Saturdays were spent at the Johnny High Show, which later became Arlington Music Hall. Last, but not least, two other loves were eating and reading.

Bill is preceded in death by his parents, Lloyd and Gertrude Porter of Tyler, Texas; and brother James Rudolph Porter of Baytown, Texas.

Bill is survived by his loving wife of 67 years, Movel Lee Wilson of Mansfield, Texas; son Frankie Lee Porter and daughter-in-law Helen Nandin Porter of DeSoto, Texas; daughter Sharon Renee' Porter Hall and son-in-law Joe Hall of Mansfield, Texas; sister Judy Katherine Porter of Tyler, Texas; sister-in-law Pat Porter of Baytown, Texas; nephew Mike Porter and his wife Mary of Lakeway, Texas; niece Karla Porter Whitfield and her husband Ward of Knoxville, Tennessee; granddaughter Misti Siver of Austin, Texas; grandson Ryan Wilson Hall of Mansfield, Texas; step-granddaughter Stephanie Wylie of Bryan, Texas; and numerous great-great-grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, please feel free to make a donation to Texans for Life Coalition, or your favorite charity.

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