Jimmy Charles Porter

Dr. Jimmy Charles Porter died March 18, 2013, at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, Mass. He was born June 5, 1939, at Little Rock, Arkansas, to Charles C. and Nona Thomas Porter. Preceding him in death were his parents and brother Gary Porter. Survivors include his wife of 51 years, Joyce Nelson Porter; his daughter, Pamela Lentz and her husband, Clay of Conway, Ark.; his son, Jeffery Porter and his wife Cecilia, of Lexington, Mass.; grandchildren, Will and Molly Lentz of Conway, and Lindsey, Sydney, and Nicholas Porter, of Lexington, Mass.; and brother Randy Porter of Benton, Ark. A 1957 graduate of Benton High School, Jim attended Arkansas Tech at Russellville, Ark., before earning his M.D. degree at the University of Arkansas Medical School, Little Rock, Ark., in 1964. He interned at Hillcrest Medical Center in Tulsa, Okla., served two years as a medical officer in the United States Navy at Glynco Naval Air Station in Georgia, and then began the private practice of medicine as a general practitioner in Lebanon, Mo., in 1967. Returning to Benton, Ark., with his family in 1971, Jimmy served on the staff of Saline Memorial Hospital, first as a general practitioner, then, after 1974, as an anesthesiologist, having completed his residency in anesthesiology at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock. In 1984, he joined the teaching staff in the Anesthesiology Department at UAMS, serving as operating room director, and training residents in anesthesiology for the next 10 years. After leaving UAMS, he continued to work part-time administering anesthesia for outpatient surgery clinics in Little Rock, finally retiring in 2004. Dr. Porter was a member and elder at the First Presbyterian Church of Benton. A memorial service will be conducted by Reverend Dr. Dari Rowen, at 10 a.m., Thursday, March 28, in the church sanctuary at 501 North East Street, Benton. A reception will follow in the fellowship hall. Memorial donations may be given to the First Presbyterian Church of Benton, or to Saline County Safe Haven, P. O. Box 1100, Benton, Ark. 72018, or to the Christian Community Care Clinic, 220 W. South Street, Benton, Ark. 72015.