Lawrence Richard "Larry" Porter

Lawrence Richard “Larry” Porter, age 70 of Empire, passed away Wednesday, December 16, 2020 at the University Hospital of Cleveland.

He was born January 7, 1950 in Steubenville, the son of the late Lawrence and Roberta M (Miskelly) Porter.

Larry was a member of the Empire United Methodist Church, Toronto Masonic Lodge #583 F & AM; was a member of the original founders of the Toronto Emergency Medical Service having served as the service’s first president;  served Village of Empire for 15 years as policeman and retired in 1996 as Police Chief; served as Village of Empire councilman from 1999 to the present; he also served on the Sugar Grove Cemetery board.  He also served as an auxiliary policeman for the City of Toronto, was a member of the Tri-City Klassic Car Club, and retired from the Mingo Jct. Wheeling-Pitt mill as an overhead crane operator in the 80 inch mill.  Larry enjoyed many trips on his Harley with his wife and many friends.  His later years he enjoyed “cruising” around the village in his golf cart.

In addition to his parents, Larry was preceded in death by an infant grandson John Lawrence in 1997; brother John L Porter July 16, 2020; brother in-law, John Dunlap. 

Larry is survived by his wife, Jacqueline R “Jackie” (Sheets) Porter whom he married May 14,   1989; his children Paul R (Melissa Antill) Porter, Tonya M Porter both of Stratton; Jaime (Shay Lucas) Licata of Empire and Pamela (Donavon Smith) Russell of Calcutta.   12 grandchildren, 9 great-grandchildren and one on the way; siblings Robert (Claudia) Porter of Newnan, GA, Pamela Porter Dunlap of Toronto, William (Kristine) Porter of Wintersville and Sally (Hughes) Porter of Toronto.

Visitation hours for Larry will be held 1-3 & 5-7 Tuesday, December 22nd at the Clarke Funeral Home, 302 Main St., Toronto.

A celebration service of Larry’s life will be held at 7 pm Tuesday at the funeral home with Pastor

Frank Rogers officiating.  A private family interment will take place at Sugar Grove Union Cemetery.

Memorial contributions in memory of Larry may be made to the Empire United Methodist Church, PO Box 147, Empire, OH  43926 or the American Heart Association, 444 Liberty Ave., Pittsburgh, PA  15222.

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