Roy Wayne Porter, age 82, of Coupeville, passed away peacefully at his home on Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2016.
Roy was born in Jamestown, N.Y., on Aug. 21, 1934, to Lyman and Ellen (Taylor) Porter. He graduated from Falconer High School and attended Jamestown Community College for two years.
Roy married Cynthia Ann Edson Aug. 27, 1955, in Jamestown. Following their wedding, and a move to Ithaca, N.Y., he received his bachelor of science degree from Cornell University and then went on to study at Michigan State University, where he received his master’s and doctorate in food science.
Dr. Porter was well-known and highly respected in the food industry, a revolutionary developer of numerous food products used by many today, like deodorized garlic.
Roy and Cynthia’s adventurous beginnings after college started in Ketchikan, Alaska, where Roy loved to hunt and fish, and worked for the National Marine Fisheries Wildlife and Game Department. After that, they moved to St. Louis to work at Anheuser Busch and onto Armour in Chicago and Minnesota.
Roy was offered opportunities in many national food companies and worked as a biochemist researcher to develop in New York and in Northern Californi before returning to Seattle, where he was again employed by the National Marine Fisheries Department until retiring in 1996.
Loving the Northwest, he and Cynthia found Whidbey Island while visiting their daughter and soon bought property and proceeded to build their dream house in Coupeville.
Roy was always busy as a craftsman woodworker building furniture pieces he generously gave to his family members as gifts. Roy loved to hunt and had a passion for his vegetable garden and fruit orchard, all while enjoying using his tractor in his retirement for the past 20 years. He and Cynthia traveled extensively all over the world, enjoying historic sites in Europe and China. Roy was a lifetime member of the Central Whidbey Gun Club.
Roy is survived by his wife of 61 years, Cynthia; son Doug Porter and wife Anna of Salem, Ore.; daughter Ann Abrahamse and husband Greg of Oak Harbor; grandchildren Renee Porter of Salem, Ore., Tyler Abrahamse and Stevie Glover of Coupeville, Logan Abrahamse and Maddie Rosenfelt of Pullman, and Zoey Abrahamse of Oak Harbor; great-grandchildren Bentley and Brody Abrahamse and Camden Glover; and brother Rueben Porter and wife Edna of Glasgow, Ken. He was preceded in death by his daughter Cheryl Ann in 1959, brother Roger Porter and granddaughter Sadie Abrahamse in 1997.
A graveside service was held at 2 p.m. Tuesday, August 30, 2016, at Sunnyside Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to Whidbey Home Health Care & Hospice, 101 N. Main St., Coupeville, WA 98239. Family and friends are encouraged to share memories & condolences at www.whidbeymemorial.com
