Sterling Cecil Porter of Springhill

Springhill Record, Thursday, November 13, 1958, pg. #5; Reel #3218
Double Funeral For Brother-in Laws
Sterling C. Porter - Robert J. Ross
A double funeral for two men who grew up together and eventually married
sisters, worked together and eventually died together in the No. 2 mine
disaster of October 23rd, was held from one of their homes on Saturday,
November 8.
The joint funeral of Sterling Cecil Porter, 37, and Robert James Ross, 36,
was held from the home of the latter, 16 Black River Road, with the Rev. W.
Maurice Knickle of All Saint's Church and Lieutenant Bruce Harcourt of the
Springhill Corps of the Salvation Army jointly officiating. Hymns were: "In
The Garden" and "What A Friend We Have In Jesus". Interments were made in
Hillside Cemetery. Pallbearers for the late Mr. Porter were: Douglas
Rushton, Harry Rushton, Laurie Wood, Fraser Moss, Basil Dixon and Ralph
Renwood. Pallbearers for the late Mr. Ross were members of the Canadian
Legion: Herbert Guthro, William Totten, James Fraser, John Moore, Harry
McKay and Douglas MacDonald. At the graveside of the late Mr. Ross, his
comrades of the Canadian Legion conducted their service, with "The Last
Post" being sounded by Bugler Horace Buck.
STERLING C. PORTER
A native of Springhill, Sterling Porter was born February 3rd, 1921, the son
of Victor and Fauline Porter. After being educated in the local schools, he
entered the employ of the Cumberland Railway and Coal Company, later
becoming a miner. On November 26, 1937, his marriage to Olga Sterling of
Springhill took place here; they have five children. He was an adherent of
the Salvation Army. Sterling Porter took great interest in sport and would
often travel considerable distances to watch such events as boxing matches.
He also took an active part in sports, as was evidenced only this year by
the fact that he took over the management of the Springhill Softball team
which completed Nova Scotia's Senior "B" playoffs. But it was perhaps in
sport that would enable Springhill's youth to participate that he showed his
paramount interest and energy. In the first year of Little League baseball
in Springhill, Sterling piloted the Iron Dukes to the Little League
championships, and he also guided a local team that achieved repeated
success against the Moncton team that went for in the Maritime playoffs. Had
it not been for the fact that a first-year team in Little League is not
permitted to participate in playoffs, Sterling would no doubt, have been the
proud manager of a team which would have achieved honors in the Maritime
Championships. This would have given him great pleasure, for he was
exceptionally fond of children; typical examples of his fondness was
demonstrated could be often seen in the countryside around Springhill, for
if one ever encountered Sterling Porter in the woods during a fishing
season, one would be sure to find him in the company fo his two boys to whom
he was teaching the art of angling. In the same manner, he was highly
competitive in sport, Sterling Porter was recognized in general as a man who
would stand up for his rights or for what he believed was right.
His untimely passing will be mourned by his many friends and by the
surviving members of his family; his wife; his three daughters and two sons,
Mrs. Wilfred (Marilyn) Colburne and Fay (17) both of Woodstock, Ont.; and
Lorraine (15), Buddy (13) and Wayne (10), all three of whom are home; one
sister, Mrs. Charles (Helen) Hopkins of Sackville, N.B.; and five brothers,
Fred of Toronto; and Victor, Randolph (Bud), Raymond and Hollis, Springhill.
(Didn't copy the list of floral tributes, etc., or the obit of Robert James
Ross)

Source: Dave Winter, 28 Sep 2011