Josephine N. Porter, age 98, of Salem, Va., passed away peacefully on Wednesday, August 29, 2018. Jo was born on February 20, 1920, in Radford, Va., to Dr. Joseph A. Noblin and Josephine Kelly Noblin and moved to Salem in 1955. She was a much-loved mother and grandmother, a talented artist, a lifelong Virginian and a longtime member of College Lutheran Church in Salem. She loved roses and drives in the country. She raised her three children in Salem and worked as a draftsperson / technical illustrator for General Electric. She was close with her neighbors on Lou Ann Street, where she lived for five decades. Jo enjoyed drawing and painting and developed her talents through classes at Virginia Western Community College. Until the age of 85 she participated in weekly exercise classes at various venues. She enjoyed spending time with her family, including regular coffee dates with her granddaughter Emily as long as her health allowed. She is preceded in death by her husband, Donald A. Porter, who passed away in 1976.
She is survived by her daughter, Ellen Holtman and husband Roger of Salem; sons Andrew Porter and wife Lynne of Williamsburg, Va., and Michael Porter and wife Darlene of Osprey, Fl.; eight grandchildren; and eleven great-grandchildren.
The interment will be private and a celebration of Jo’s life will be held at 6 p.m. on Friday, September 28, at College Lutheran Church.
Her family is grateful for the loving and attentive care of the staff at Snyder Nursing Home in Salem.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Alzheimer’s Association of Central and Western Virginia at www.alz.org/cwva/donate.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.johnmoakey.com.