Warren Child Porter, 91, of Rexburg, died December 22, 2011, at The Homestead Assisted Living Center in Rexburg.

He was born March 15, 1920, to Arthur Porter, Jr. and Nell Child Porter, the eighth child in a family of eleven children. He grew up in Rexburg, graduated from Madison High School in 1938, and later Ricks College with a two-year associate's degree in business. In high school he was active in student government, editor of the student newspaper, and played football. At Ricks, he also played football.

At a very early age, he began working in the family businesses, The Rexburg Journal and Porter's Book Store. He started out in his pre-teen years with the job of taking advertising proofs to the various businesses in Rexburg for approval. From this, he became acquainted with many local business people. Later, he learned basic printing skills and advanced to being a "printer's devil."

Except for an LDS mission to Brazil and service the army during World War II, Porter worked in the family business with his father until 1950, primarily as a printer. At that time he bought the book store from his father, which had been a sideline to the printing and newspaper business. While continuing to work part time as a printer for his brothers, he developed the retail business, expanding it in downtown Rexburg by adding a Ben Franklin Variety store franchise and office supplies. Later, he sold his farm and cattle business in the Rexburg area and purchased a Ben Franklin store in St. Anthony. Porter remained active in business until recently when health issues prevented him from doing so. The office supply part of the business has been spun off and is owned and operated by a grandson. The variety store business mutated into craft stores, which operate in Rexburg and Idaho Falls and are owned by his son and daughter-in-law. For a time he was a partner on a variety store in Soda Springs with another son and involved in an office supply store in downtown Idaho Falls.

In December of 1943, Warren married Viola Hunter in San Francisco. They had met originally while attending Ricks College. In the early years of their marriage, they lived in Washington, D.C. and Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, per his military assignments.

In the military, Porter was in the infantry ready to be shipped overseas when he received orders transfer to Army Military Intelligence Service. There he served as a translator and interpreter for Brazilian army officers being trained in the United States. In 1946 he left the army with the rank of Master Sargent in the Military Intelligence Service and returned to Rexburg.

Porter was an organizer of an office supply wholesale establishment in Salt Lake City, and served on its board for many years. He also served on the national advisory board for the Ben Franklin variety store organization. In 1986 he was presented with the Businessman of the Year award by the Rexburg Chamber of Commerce.

He was active in community service, serving in various capacities in the Chamber of Commerce, 14 years on the board of Madison Memorial Hospital (two terms as chairman), president of the local Kiwanis Club, two terms on Rexburg City Council, and on the advisory board of the Idaho Public Television History Series.

Porter was an active member of the L.D.S. Church, serving in many ward and stake positions, as well as in the Idaho Falls temple.

He was preceded in death by his parents, one daughter, one grandson, three brothers, and four sisters. He is survived by son Chuck (Linda) Porter of Rexburg, son Alan (Sheila) Porter of Toole, UT, daughter Rebecca (Marc) Berke of Alamo, CA, son T. Flint (Susan) Porter, of Salt Lake City, three younger sisters, fifteen grandchildren, and twelve great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be at the Rexburg East Stake Center at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, Dec 27, with Bishop David Reeser of the Rexburg 6th Ward officiating. The family will receive friends from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. Monday, Dec 26, at the Flamm Funeral Home in Rexburg, and one hour prior to services on Tuesday at the Stake Center. Interment will be in the Rexburg Cemetery.