Obituary of Gordon Eric Porter

PORTER, Gordon Eric 95, died June 11, 2016 in Tucson. He was born September 18, 1920 in Logan, Utah. Lorraine Anderson Porter, his wife of 69 years, predeceased him. He is survived by his daughter, Karen E. Porter of Tucson, AZ; his son, Ralph G. Porter and daughter-in-law, Julie Hyde-Porter of Centennial, Colorado. His four brothers, Ralph M. Porter, Dean O. Porter, Alan S. Porter and Van E. Porter all predeceased him. Gordon has two granddaughters, five great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandson. Gordon graduated from Berkeley (Calif.) High School in 1938 and from Utah State University in 1943. After two years in the foreign service at the US embassy in Rio de Janiero, Brazil, Mr. Porter found his vocation as a teacher. From 1947 until his retirement in 1980, he taught Spanish and Portuguese language and literature courses at Utah State University, rising from an assistant professor to department head. He pursued post-graduate studies at the University of Washington (in Portuguese) and the University of Arizona (in Spanish). In addition to his teaching duties at Utah State he organized five NDEA language institutes for high school teachers of Spanish held in Oaxaca, Mexico, Quito, Ecuador and other places. Gordon was recruited to help with intensive language training for Peace Corp volunteers that took place in Bolivia, Peru and Equador. In Tucson he volunteered for an adult literacy program that specialized in serving Spanish speaking adults. Gordon always enjoyed and excelled at athletics, particularly tennis, baseball and golf. The family plans a private Memorial Service with burial at the Logan City (Utah) Cemetery in July. Arrangements by ADAIR FUNERAL HOMES, Avalon Chapel.