Retired Northwood principal started his career in Tiffin

5/7/2006

FREMONT - Kenneth D. Porter, 70, a retired northwest Ohio educator, died of cancer Wednesday in his home here after a five-month bout with the disease.

His career in education spanned 31 years.

Mr. Porter retired in 1990 after 18 years as a principal in the Northwood Local School District. He was the principal of Olney Elementary School from 1972 to 1974 and principal of Northwood Middle School from 1974 until retiring.

Before that, Mr. Porter was the principal of Hopewell-Loudon Elementary School, Bascom, Ohio, from 1964 to 1969 and the principal of Lake Elementary School, Millbury, from 1969 to 1972.

Mr. Porter started his career as a teacher at Noble Elementary School, Tiffin, where he taught the fifth grade from 1959 to 1964. During that time, he also was an assistant football coach at Tiffin Columbian High School.

"He was very dedicated," his wife of 47 years, Marjie Porter, said. "He loved kids. All the kids were his first priority. He was a good principal and a loving teacher when he taught."

Over the years, he served on the boards of directors of the former Mid-Am Bank in Northwood as well as a Wood County credit union.

A native of Cleveland, Mr. Porter grew up in Ravenna, Ohio, and graduated from Ravenna High School in 1954. That year he enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps and later served at Parris Island, S.C., until his honorable discharge in 1956.

He later continued his education, receiving a bachelor's degree in elementary education from Heidelberg College and a master's degree, also in elementary education, from the University of Toledo. He did work at Bowling Green State University for a doctoral degree.

In retirement, Mr. Porter enjoyed boating and deep-sea fishing. He was an avid fan of the Cleveland Browns and the Ohio State Buckeyes.

Mr. Porter was a member of a VFW post in Northwood, the Rossford Eagles, the Loyal Order of the Moose in the Florida Keys, and the former Lake-Northwood Kiwanis Club.

Surviving are his wife, Marjie; son, Kraig; daughters, Lynn Brubaker and Ann Nichpor; brother, Deryl, and three grandchildren.

There will be no visitation. A memorial service will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday in the Herman-Kinn-Karlovetz Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Fremont.

The family suggests tributes to the Hospice of Memorial Hospital in Clyde, Ohio, or the Humane Society of Sandusky County in Fremont.