Porter

Dennis William Porter, 71, of Buckhannon, W.Va., died Tuesday, June 14, 2022, at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Buckhannon.

He was born Sept. 14, 1950, in Pittsburgh, a son of the late Wendell and Helen Gilleland Porter. On Sept. 24, 1977, he married Nancy Baker Porter, of Buckhannon, who survives.

Dennis graduated from Mars Area Senior High School in 1968. He went on to receive a bachelor’s degree in physical education and athletic training from West Virginia University in 1978, a master’s degree in education from James Madison University (VA) in 1984, and a postgraduate physical therapist assistant degree from Kent State University in 2011. Professionally, Dennis worked as an athletic trainer in athletic and clinical capacities at Fairmont State University, Harrisonburg Public Schools (Va.), and Cincinnati Sports Medicine (Ohio). His career spanned all competitive levels including the junior Under-19 national soccer team, United States Olympic Diving Team, and the Bluefield (W.Va.) Orioles, a minor league affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles. He served as the first clinical director at Buckhannon MPTA/Healthworks from 1990 until his retirement in 2016.

Dennis also proudly served in the U. S. Army as a surveyor in the HHQ Battery 1/94 Field Artillery Unit in Firth, Germany, from 1972 to 1974.

As a teen, Dennis earned Eagle Scout honors and received the God & Country Award from the Boy Scouts of America. He was a member of the Buckhannon Rotary Club, National Athletic Trainers Association, and the Mid-Atlantic Athletic Trainers Association, where he served a term as president. Dennis was also a member of the Chapel Hill United Methodist Church in Buckhannon. Throughout the years, Dennis was an avid fan of the West Virginia Mountaineers, Pittsburgh Steelers and Pirates. Above all, Dennis enjoyed raising his three daughters alongside his wife and spending time with family and friends.

In addition to his wife, Dennis is also survived by three daughters, Kristen Porter of High Point, N.C., Lara Trushel and husband, Richard, of Beaver, and Heather Porter and husband, Seth Endicott, of Salisbury, Md.; two granddaughters, Avalyn and Amalia Trushel both of Beaver; one grandson, Andrew Porter Endicott of Salisbury; one brother, Jeffrey Porter and wife, Wanda, of Manor, Texas; a brother-in-law, Peter Baker, of Fla.; aunts, Betty J. Steiner of Clearwater, Fla., Margaret Trautman and husband, Bill, of Courtland, Ohio, and Elsie Cunningham of Bakerstown; and one niece, Wendy Porter.

Dennis was preceded in death by his uncles, Ralph Steiner, Joseph Porter, Robert Porter, Roderick Porter, and William Gilleland; aunts, Edythe Kennedy, Ora Perkins; cousins, Ronald and James Steiner; and in-laws, Nicholas and Ruth Baker.

PORTER — Friends of Dennis William Porter, who died Tuesday, June 14, 2022, will be received from 5 to 7 p.m. Saturday, June 18, 2022, at the Poling-St. Clair Funeral Home.

A funeral service will be held at 1 p.m. Monday at MCDONALD-AEBERLI FUNERAL HOME, 238 Crowe Ave. Mars, with visitation from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Burial will follow in the West Union Cemetery in Gibsonia.

Poling-St. Clair and McDonald-Aeberli Funeral Homes are in charge of the arrangements.

Online condolences may be left for the family at www.polingstclair.com.

Please sign the guest book at www.butlereagle.com.