Summer Celebration of Life Date Announced for Bill Porter’s Life and Legacy
by Kate Nixon
A Celebration of Life for Bill Porter
Thursday, July 31, 2025
2:00 pm – 5:00 pm
2170 Five Mile Rd, Whitmore Lake, MI 48189
RSVP by July 24th
In an email from Bill’s wife Patsy Porter, a public celebration of life event was announced that will take place Thursday, July 31st at the home of the Porters in Whitmore Lake, Michigan.
To all those interested, you must RSVP by July 24th.
For more information or to RSVP, please email Patsy Porter or call.
[email protected] 734-449-4491
Bill Porter during the National Arts and Crafts Conference at the Grove Park Inn in Asheville, NC.
William Lee Porter Jr, or Bill as we knew him, passed away peacefully in the morning hours of April 25th surrounded by his family at his home. After speaking to his wife Patsy, she shared that he benefited from excellent hospice care and developed friendships with his caretakers who assisted him in the last years of his life. He is survived by his wife Patsy Porter, his son Adam Hampton Porter, his daughters Sarah Porter and Lydia Latocki, brother Thomas Hampton Porter and his three grandchildren, Audrey L. Grabowski, Evan D. Grabowski, children of Sarah, and Payton Porter Latocki, son of Lydia.
Before he came to the Grove Park Inn, Bill had a thriving 37-year career as an automobile designer. After his experience as a Designer for General Motors 1958, Bill’s professional experience grew in the Pontiac Exterior Production Studio under Chief Designer Jack Humbert and held positions in General Motor’s Design Studio, Design Development Studio and Advanced 2 studios. He continued on in the role of Chief Designer, where he directed the design of Pontiacs of the era, including Firebirds, Le Mans, GTOs, Catalinas, Bonnevilles, and Grand Prixs until he retired in 1996.
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