Melvin Porter Sr

Melvin Maurice Porter, Sr. was born on May 16, 1955, to Tom Sr. and Henrietta Porter in Columbus, Ohio. He was the sixth of their seven biological children (Hattie, Henrietta, Delores, Barbara, Tom Jr., and Sheldon), although he would tell everyone that he was in charge when daddy was gone. As a young man, Melvin attended Linden McKinley High School and enlisted in the US Army at the age of 17. After serving in the Army, and working for several years at Buckeye Steel and as a school bus driver, Melvin had a successful career at Miesse Pharmaceutical. In his spare time, Melvin enjoyed singing and dancing, especially to the good ole’ Motown songs that he would often sing on Karaoke night. He was a die hard Cleveland Browns fan (no matter how much they loss) and he loved The Ohio State Buckeyes. But most of all, Melvin loved spending time with his family. As if his biological family was not big enough, Melvin married the love of his life, Diana, whose family was just as big or bigger than the Porter family. His wife, mother, siblings, children, stepchildren, grandchildren, and over 70 nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews could always count on Melvin to help them out, and be there to celebrate their accomplishments. Although he only had 2 biological children, Melvin Jr. and Dominic Porter, Melvin loved kids and was a father figure to many more. After a courageous battle with liver cancer, Melvin went home to be with the Lord on August 10, 2011, at the age of 56. He was preceded in death by his father Tom Porter, Sr. and sister Henrietta I. Porter. He is survived by his wife Diana Porter; mother Henrietta Patrick Porter, sons Melvin Jr. and Dominic Porter, Brian and Antonio Stanley; daughter Christina Stanley and spiritual daughter Belinda Stanley; brothers Tom Jr. and Sheldon Porter; sisters, Hattie Porter, Barbara (Clarence) Holloway, Delores Porter-Patton (John), and Rita Winslow, all of Columbus, OH; and uncle Council (Doris) Porter of Cheraw, SC. One of Melvin’s all time favorite songs to sing was Dance with My Father by Luther Vandross. We are comforted in knowing that Melvin is pain free and in heaven dancing with his father and with the angels.