NATCHEZ — Delton Porter, 90, of Natchez, died peacefully at his residence Thursday, July 13, 2017.

In remembrance of Mr. Porter’s life, family and friends will gather at the Cotton Alley restaurant from 4 to 6 p.m. Thursday, July 20, 2017.

Mr. Porter was born June 5, 1927, the son of Ed and Mary Porter as one of eight children.

He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. He was also a part of the Natchez High “Fighting Five” classes which graduated between 1941 and 1945. He went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in education and master’s degree in guidance from Delta State College, as it was then known.

Mr. Porter spent more than 20 years in the Natchez public schools as a teacher and guidance counselor. He worked at the University of Southern Mississippi extension and the Copiah-Lincoln Junior College extension in Natchez in the guidance department. During the boom years of the 1980s, he was employed by the O’Malley Oil Company.

Mr. Porter was preceded in death by his parents; one sister, Margaret; three brothers, Claude, Clay and Arthur; and his wife of 39 years, Jean Sandifer Porter.

Survivors include his wife of 20 years, Estelle Byrne Porter; two daughters, Susan Porter and Bettye Porter Greenwood and husband, retired Col. Tom Greenwood USMC; grandchildren, Lilly Hull and husband, Adam, Ross Greenwood and wife, Cait, and Seth Greenwood; great-granddaughter, Hailey Hull, along with Tara and Eddie Leachman and Felice Fortenberry and their families; one sister, Mary Latham; two brothers, Harry Porter and Kenny Porter; and a number of nieces and nephews.