1920
Martha
2009
Martha (Kilcrease) Porter
March 9, 1920 — March 9, 2009
PORTER Martha Louise (Kilcrease) Porter, 89, of Overland Park, KS, passed away Monday, March 9, 2009.
Martha was born February 25, 1920 in Springfield, MO. She was manager of a Kansas City photo studio prior to marriage. Both she and her husband, Leonard, graduated from Northeast Senior High School in Kansas City, MO, in 1938. They met again two years later, started dating, and decided on marriage. Within four months they were married on December 13, 1941. Martha worked at Lake City Ordinance Plant near Kansas City during Leonard's service with the Army Air Corp. Leonard was a bomber pilot in combat and, on return to the States, conferred with Martha and they mutually agreed he would continue in the service as a pilot. She quickly became a dedicated Air Force wife, and effectively conducted their social life within the mores or printed directives on what was considered proper activities of a budding Air Force career officer. She was a guiding light and joined in with socializing and doing many volunteer activities as they moved from base to base. At one Air Force base she studied and became a volunteer dental technician. At another, she was a "Gray Lady" volunteer for hospital duties. As they moved from assignment to assignment, she volunteered to serve as requested. She remained socially active as well, including playing in ladies' bridge tournaments and assisting in other planned events. After military retirement, she continued her social expertise after Leonard was hired as a Trans World Airline Captain. Martha thoroughly enjoyed their assignments to Saudi Arabia on two separate tours for a total of six years in the Mideast. She was ever resourceful, furthering Leonard's flying career more than she ever knew.
Survivors include her husband, Leonard, of 67 years; son, David and his wife, Rita; grandchildren, David Jr., Stacy Latessa and her husband, Matt; and great- granddaughter, Adalyn Grace.
Friends may call on the family 10-11 a.m., Thursday, March 12, at D.W. Newcomer's Sons Johnson County Chapel, 11200 Metcalf. Arr.: D.W. Newcomer's Sons, 913.451.1860.
Martha was born February 25, 1920 in Springfield, MO. She was manager of a Kansas City photo studio prior to marriage. Both she and her husband, Leonard, graduated from Northeast Senior High School in Kansas City, MO, in 1938. They met again two years later, started dating, and decided on marriage. Within four months they were married on December 13, 1941. Martha worked at Lake City Ordinance Plant near Kansas City during Leonard's service with the Army Air Corp. Leonard was a bomber pilot in combat and, on return to the States, conferred with Martha and they mutually agreed he would continue in the service as a pilot. She quickly became a dedicated Air Force wife, and effectively conducted their social life within the mores or printed directives on what was considered proper activities of a budding Air Force career officer. She was a guiding light and joined in with socializing and doing many volunteer activities as they moved from base to base. At one Air Force base she studied and became a volunteer dental technician. At another, she was a "Gray Lady" volunteer for hospital duties. As they moved from assignment to assignment, she volunteered to serve as requested. She remained socially active as well, including playing in ladies' bridge tournaments and assisting in other planned events. After military retirement, she continued her social expertise after Leonard was hired as a Trans World Airline Captain. Martha thoroughly enjoyed their assignments to Saudi Arabia on two separate tours for a total of six years in the Mideast. She was ever resourceful, furthering Leonard's flying career more than she ever knew.
Survivors include her husband, Leonard, of 67 years; son, David and his wife, Rita; grandchildren, David Jr., Stacy Latessa and her husband, Matt; and great- granddaughter, Adalyn Grace.
Friends may call on the family 10-11 a.m., Thursday, March 12, at D.W. Newcomer's Sons Johnson County Chapel, 11200 Metcalf. Arr.: D.W. Newcomer's Sons, 913.451.1860.
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