Father Robert N. Porter, 85, died at St. John’s Hospital, Springfield, on Sept. 17, 2021.
Visitation will be held on Friday, September 24, 2021 at Holy Family Church in Litchfield from 5 to 6:00 p.m. Memorial mass will then be held on Friday, September 24, 2021 at Holy Family Church in Litchfield at 6 p.m. Public graveside services will be held on Saturday, September 25, 2021 at 11 a.m. at Calvary Cemetery, Illiopolis. Kravanya Funeral Home is assisting the family.
He was born in Decatur on February 13, 1936 to James and Nina (Chasco) Porter. He was baptized by Father Andrew Smith at Saint Thomas the Apostle Church on March 1, 1936. He attended Saint Thomas School until he moved to Illiopolis on December 3, 1946.
He received the Sacrament of Confirmation from Bishop William A. O’Connor at Visitation of the Blessed Virgin March Church, Illiopolis, on May 18, 1950. He graduated from Illiopolis High School in May of 1955. He entered the Diocesan Seminary of the Immaculate Conception at New Berlin and then Springfield in August of 1955 for one year. He continued and completed his studies at St. John’s Seminary in Little Rock, Arkansas and was ordained a deacon by Bishop Albert L. Fletcher, on May 11, 1963 at the Cathedral of Saint Andrew in Little Rock, Arkansas.
He was ordained a priest at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception by Bishop WIlliam A. O’Connor on May 23, 1964. His first appointment by Bishop O’Connor was as Parochial Vicar at the Church of the Little Flower in Springfield on June 22, 1964. He then took on assignments at Saint Bernard Church in Wood River; Saint Frances Cabrini Church, Springfield; Our Lady of Lourdes in Decatur; Saint Anthony Hospital, Alton; St. Elizabeth Church, Marine; St. Gertrude Church in Grantfork; Saint John the Baptist Church, Coffeen; Sacred Heart Church, Panama; Vandalia Correctional Center; Mother of Dolors Church, Vandalia; Saint Thomas the Apostle Church; St. Mary’s Church, Bunker Hill; Holy Cross Church, Wilsonville; Saint Denis, Shipman; Saint Mary and Joseph Church, Carlinville; Saint Mary Parish, Farmersville; and Saint Patrick Parish in Girard.
He retired on July 1, 2006 and remained active doing weekend help for priests.
Father Porter was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Daniel Edward Porter, James Henry Porter, Joseph Andrew Porter, and Victor Louis Porter; sisters, Gloria Ann (Porter) Kinsinger and Mary Katherine (Porter) Burgener.
Memorials may be made to masses, Litchfield Food Pantry and the Commission for the Priests’ Benefits.
