Louie Thomas Porter, Jr.

Louie Thomas “Tom” Porter, Jr., 75, of Greensboro, GA, passed away Friday, April 5th, 2024, at his daughter’s home in Rutledge, GA. Tom was the son of the late Louie Thoms Porter and Juanita Conoley Porter.  He was born on January 14, 1949, in Thomasville, GA.  He graduated from Thomasville High School in Thomasville, GA.  He graduated from Presbyterian College in Clinton, SC in 1971, where he participated in ROTC and received a degree in psychology. He entered the Army June 6, 1971, and married Susan Marie Yarbrough on January 15th, 1972.   Tom and Susan were first stationed in Miami, FL followed by Vicenza, Italy, where his daughter Beth was born.  After leaving Italy, they were stationed in El Paso, TX, where his second daughter, Ellen, was born.  From Texas they went to Monterey, CA, and finally ended up settling in Smyrna GA.  Tom proudly served his country in the Army until 1984 when he retired from active duty and joined the Army National Guard.  While in the National Guard, Tom went back to school where he earned an MBA in Information Technology from Kennesaw State University.  He was honorably discharged from service at the rank of Lt. Col. in 1993.  Tom worked as CIO for Rollins, Inc. and retired April 1, 2011.

Tom and his wife Susan participated in madrigals in college, were members of the Marietta Chorale and later the Reynolds Chorus. He was a long-time member of Smyrna Presbyterian Church (PCA) in Smyrna, GA where he sang in the choir and was a member of the diaconate. After moving to Lake Oconee in 2001, Tom and Susan joined Lake Oconee Presbyterian Church (PCA) where Tom continued singing bass in the choir, led Sunday School, and served as an elder. He is an Elder Emeritus of LOPC.  Tom was an avid golfer and built his own golf clubs.  He played basketball and ran track. Tom could often be found either on the golf course or on the lake pulling grandkids behind the boat. 

Tom is survived by his daughters, Beth (Billy) Mitchell of Rutledge, GA and Ellen (Nathan) Koerner of Braselton, GA; his sister, Emily (Kerry) Guttenberg of Appleton, WI; grandchildren, Sam (Brittney), Will, Matt, Emma Grace, Tom, BethAnne, Mary Kaitlyn, Lauren Taylor, and Jack Mitchell; Brendan, Grayson and Addison Koerner; nephew, Tom Guttenberg;  his brother-in-law David (Suzanne) Yarbrough, sister-in -law Catherine (Tom) Carter and nieces, Elizabeth Rodger, Lauren Yarbrough and Julia Carter.  He is preceded in death by his parents, Louie and Juanita Porter, his beloved wife of 51 years, Susan and niece, Liz Guttenberg.

Services will be held at 1:30 pm on Saturday, April 27, 2024, at Lake Oconee Presbyterian Church, 113 Scott Road, Eatonton, GA  31024 with Rev. Jeff Birch officiating. The family will receive friends from 12:30 pm until time for the service at the church. The family requests that any memorials be made to Lake Oconee Presbyterian Church, 113 Scott Road, Eatonton, GA 31024.  McCommons Funeral Home, 109 W. Broad St., Greensboro, GA, (706) 453-2626, is overseeing the arrangements. Visit them at www.mccommonsfuneralhome.com to sign the online guest register. 

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