There were two pictures in the box that I couldn't identify. One was another wedding photograph. On the back I can't make out the first word but the rest is:
Jean
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Bristol England
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15/6/45
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Bristol England
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15/6/45
Now, since I was working on the confirmation picture tonight (yes, tonight. You are getting updated as it happens so no lag time this time.) I picked Merle Porter. The name sounded familiar and I wasn't sure why. It turns out that is the name of a famous photographer but as far as I can tell they aren't one in the same. In that search I found his obituary, if you aren't interested in the whole thing you can read the highlighted part:
PORTER Merle Harrie 1919 - 2012 This man was not a physician or a millionaire or famous in any way...except to his family. This is a bit of his story. Merle Harrie Porter came into the world on January 26, 1919, and left it 93 years later on April 10, 2012. Born in Oberlin, OH, to Burton and Mabel (Kelly) Porter five years after his brother, Burton Durand, he lived most of his life in Genoa, OH excepting the last five years in Ludington, MI. As a boy visiting family back in Oberlin, he became a fan of the Cleveland Indians. He attended games at three different stadiums in Cleveland and after faithfully watching them on TV, saw his last game the evening before he died. After graduating from Genoa High School, he studied pharmacy at Toledo University, but left in 1942 to enter the Army of the United States and serve his country as a medic in Africa and Europe during WWII. It was in Bristol, England, that a local chap befriended him at a barber shop and, while stopping briefly at his new friend's home before going on to the pub, Merle spied his future bride. Twelve days after their meeting, Merle and Jean Boyce were engaged. After several failed leave attempts, they were finally wed in Bristol 3 years later on June 15, 1945, in a wedding that was planned in just two days. Upon return to civilian life, Merle went to work for Walding, Kinnan, and Marvin Co. becoming a pharmaceutical salesman. After retiring in 1981, he remained friends with many of the sales team, office staff, and pharmacists on whom he had called over the years. As a long time member of St. John's United Church of Christ, he served at various times on many committees, taught Sunday school, served as president of the congregation, His greatest joy was to sing in the choir that his father had directed at one time. He had a resonant, deep bass voice and sang for more than seventy-five years, becoming the longest serving choir member in church history. Merle also served on the Genoa village council and school board. Together the Porters raised six daughters, Donna (Jon) Fish, Barbara (Calvin) Wolcott, Gail (Larry) Moss, Sharon (Carl) Dietrich, Marilyn (Bob) London, and Kelly (Roger) Anderson. Through them, Merle and Jean were blessed with sixteen grandchildren, Cris, Jennifer, Ryan, Marty, Josh, Andy, Rachel, Matt, Kerrie, Mark, Chris, Casie, Julia, Megan, Jim, and Joe, and 22 1/2 great-grandchildren. Merle is survived by all of them, along with his sister-in-law Sara Porter and nieces and nephews in the US, Canada, England, and Australia. He was preceded in death by his parents; his brother; his wife of 52 years, and an infant grandson. Merle was well loved and well respected in his community. He had an infectious laugh that was loud enough to serve as a beacon for his children. He and Jean set an incredible example of marital love, which all of his family hold up as THE example of what marriage should be. He had a wonderful way with words. Letters written even as a teen show his wit and command of language. His letters to his Jean during the war are voluminous. At home in his later years, he stayed in contact via emails with many of his extended family members and friends. If you were the recipient of any of those mailings, it wasn't long before you realized that he retained his wonderful sense of humor, even after his physical abilities were greatly reduced. As Merle aged and became less able to care for himself, he was able to stay in his home with daughters close by, for which he and his family are very grateful. We wish to especially thank family members Barb and Cal Wolcott and Kelly and Roger Anderson for their loving and tireless attendance to him and Mom over the past 20 plus years. Merle's love of singing was passed on to his family, and those family voices, along with those of friends, will be lifted in celebration of his life at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, April 22, 2012, with a dessert reception immediately following in the fellowship hall of St. John's United Church of Christ, 1213 Washington St. Genoa. If you wish to honor Merle's memory with a memorial donation, it would please the family if you would consider writing checks out to "Rachel Volschow" and send it c/o Robinson Walker Funeral Home 501 West St. Genoa, OH 43430. These will be used for Merle's beloved granddaughter's expenses in her ongoing battle with breast cancer. Thank You. Online condolences may be shared with the family at walkerfuneralhomes.com
June 15, 1945. Jean. I wonder what the chances are that the young man in the confirmation picture, the groom in this wedding picture and the older man below are all one and the same....
Penny for your thoughts on this one all y'all!
Original post can be found in its entirety here: https://photographsandmysteries.blogspot.com/2009/12/update-little-brown-box.html
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