Elliott C. Porter

Elliott C. Porter MARION - Mr. Elliott Crayton Porter, 68, passed away on January 6, 2011 at McLeod Hospice House after an illness. He was born in Marion, SC on February 19, 1942 to Luther Porter, Sr. and Mary Jackson Porter. After attending Marion High School and Aiken Technical College, Mr. Porter joined the S.C. National Guard on December 1, 1958. He then enlisted in the United States Navy in May of 1960. He began his career in the U.S. Navy with recruit training in Great Lakes, IL. After recruit training, he attended numerous aircraft maintenance and management schools, and received training at the Naval Air Station (NAS) Whiting Field in Milton, FL and Naval Air Station Technical Training Center in Memphis, TN. His specialty was aircraft maintenance, and he received extensive education in various naval aircraft including the F-9, T-28, ra5c, F-4 Phantom, T-39, C-1, C-2, SNJ, A-3, A-4, SH-3A Sea Stallion Helicopter, F-14 Tomcat, and the U.S. Air Force F-5. He was assigned to NAS squadrons VS-26 in Norfolk, VA, RVAH-3 in Sanford, FL, RVAH-9 in Albany, GA, VC-2 and VF-101 in Oceana, VA, VRC-40 in Norfolk, VA, and to Naval Air Stations in Jacksonville, Key West, and Pensacola, FL. Mr. Porter was also assigned overseas to the F-14 Navy Technical Assistance Field Team (TAFT) in Esfahan, Iran, VR-24 in Sigonella, Sicily, and Naval Air Stations in Rota, Spain, Naples, Italy, Athens, Greece, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, Souda Bay, Crete, and the Naval F-14 TAFT in Tehran, Iran. While on assignments, Mr. Porter was stationed on the aircraft carriers USS Randolph and USS Saratoga in the Mediterranean, USS Forrestal, USS Enterprise, USS Lexington, and the USS Independence. Mr. Porter also participated in sea trials in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba and was assigned to the Navy Recruiting Center in Augusta, GA during his enlistment. Mr. Porter retired as a Senior Chief Petty Officer in February of 1981, after serving his country for almost 23 years. After his retirement from the U.S. Navy, Mr. Porter resided in Clearwater, SC until October of 1985 when he returned to his birth city of Marion, SC. He and his wife, Faye, were the owners of a local convenience store in Pee Dee, SC for several years. After selling the business, Mr. Porter was employed in maintenance until his decline in health. His greatest joy was spending time with his many grandchildren. Mr. Porter was preceded in death by his parents, Luther Porter, Sr. and Mary Jackson Porter; stepson Joseph Brown Porter; five brothers, Lynwood Porter, Hayward Porter, Norman Porter, Horace Porter, and Luther Porter, Jr.; one sister, Mary Porter Cox; special nephew, Marion Porter; and one grandson, George William Xenakis. Surviving Mr. Porter is his wife of 25 years, Faye, of the home; three daughters, Kristina Fallon (Chris Foss) of Columbia, SC, Shannon Gumlaw (Michael) of Marion, SC and Mellisa Xenakis (George, Jr.) of Aynor, stepson, Chris Wiggins (Carrie) of Augusta, GA; sisters, Mildred Gowdy (Johnny) of Sumter, SC, Muriel Pridgen (Donnie) of Sumter, SC, Murielene Caulder (Ansel) of Marion, SC; brother, Hubert Porter (Kay) of Marion, SC; special brother-in-law, Lonnie Cox; and grandchildren, Faith Fallon, Bryson Wiggins, Brayden Wiggins, Logan Wiggins, Jonathan Wiggins, Dominick Gum-law, Karis Gumlaw, George Xenakis III, Mark Xenakis, Catherine Xenakis, and Elizabeth Xenakis. Visitation will be at the Porter Home, 3705 West Hwy 76, Marion, SC 29571 on Sunday, January 9, from 6:00-8:00 PM. Services will be held at 11:00 am on Tuesday, January 11 at Richardson Funeral Home. Burial with full military honors will follow at 1:00 pm at Florence National Cemetery.