Claude Bruce Porter

Mr. Claude Bruce Porter, 81, formerly of Brunswick, died Thursday, Sept. 23, 2010, at Kline Hospice House, after an extended illness. He was the husband of the late Nancy Marie Schmidt Porter, who died January 2, 2001.

Born June 28, 1929, in Brunswick, he was a son of the late Claude H. Porter and Louise V. Porter.

Bruce, as he was known to all, was a lifelong resident of Brunswick. He attended Brunswick schools, graduating from Brunswick High School in 1947. After graduation, he started working as a clerk at the Bank of Brunswick, where he spent the next 47 years, retiring in 1994 as Executive Vice President. He was one of the last small town community bankers.

He was an active member of the Brunswick community during his life. He was a life-long member of the First United (now New Hope) United Methodist Church, where he sang in the choir. He was an amateur pilot, a member of the Civil Air Patrol, and one of the founding members of the Brunswick Volunteer Ambulance Company in 1958. He was also a member of the Brunswick Lions Club and the Moose Lodge. In 1992, Bruce was recognized as one of Brunswicks Honored Citizens in the Brunswick Citizen.

Bruce loved sports, especially football. He was an avid fan of the Washington Redskins, in good times and bad, since his youth. In the mid-1960s, he was part of a group of local businessmen and civic leaders who formed a committee to establish a football program at Brunswick High School. Their successful efforts brought football to Brunswick High School, and he was an active member of the BHS Football Boosters program. He eventually saw his youngest son Neil play for, and later become an assistant coach with, the Railroaders. Bruce supported other local youth sports, umpiring Little League baseball games for many years. Bruce also enjoyed bowling, participating for many years in local leagues in Brunswick.

After his wifes death in 2001 and due to declining health, he became a resident of Heartfields Assisted Living in Walkersville for eight years. He spent the last year of his life as a resident of Citizens Nursing Home in Frederick. During his time at Heartfields, he discovered a talent for painting. He painted numerous landscapes that he enjoyed giving to family and friends. His paintings also won several awards over the years at the Great Frederick Fair.

In addition to his parents and his wife, to whom he was married for 51 years, he was preceded in death by an infant daughter, Tina Louise Porter, in 1958. Surviving are four children: Kenneth A. Porter of North Carolina, Vicki Fleetwood of Brunswick, Michele Miller of Middletown and Neil E. Porter of Brunswick; six grandchildren, Amy Porter of Frederick, Brad Porter of North Carolina, Lia Woodruff and Loren Crispell of Brunswick, and Ashlyn and Alaina Miller of Middletown; two great-grandchildren, Brody Crispell and Cade Woodruff of Brunswick; brother, Gary Porter of Harrisonburg,Virginia and aunt Norma Knepp of Columbus, Ohio.

Friends will be received on Sunday, September 26 from 4 7 PM at Keeney and Basford PA Funeral Home, 106 E. Church Street, Frederick and again on Monday, September 27 from 10 11 AM. Funeral Services will be held on Monday, September 27 at 11 AM in the Etchison Memorial Chapel of the Funeral Home, the pastors Katie Bishop and Noni Sigler officiating. Interment will immediately follow in Mount Olivet Cemtery, Frederick.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Hospice of Frederick County, P.O. Box 1799, Frederick, Maryland 21702.

Please view and sign the online guestbook at www.keeneybasford.com.