Robert S. Porr

Robert (Bob) Spencer Porr of Middletown, Pennsylvania passed away peacefully after a brief illness on Friday March 21, 2025. Born on May 27, 1958, in Harrisburg to the late John Wolf Porr, Jr. and Margaret Porr Toms of Lancaster, he was the widower of his beloved Ruby Hartman Porr who died in 2012.

A proud alumnus, Robert graduated from Valley Forge Military Academy in 1977. He attended Central Pennsylvania Business School and graduated from Harrisburg Area Community College. He was employed by Gancom in Camp Hill and later, Fry Communication. Robert had a long fascination with computer technology and was a very early adopter, collecting computer components in the early 1980s.

Robert loved dry, quirky humor, especially British humor and passed this on to his nieces and nephews. He could often be heard quoting Benny Hill and Monty Python. One of his favorite songs was “Always Look on the Bright Side of Life”. He also passed on his love of music particularly John Prine and Leon Redbone to the younger generation. Perhaps his greatest love though, was for animals. From a young age he exhibited a deep connection with animals, both wild and tame and more than once surprised his mother by coming home with injured wildlife in a box.

A biker at heart, Robert was the enthusiastic owner of a Harley Davidson Anniversary Edition trike. He traveled to many local biker rallies and enjoyed the camaraderie of his fellow bikers.

Robert has left behind a family who will long hold him in their hearts and memories. His mother in particular will miss his good and true nature. His sisters, Linda P. Sweeney, of Lancaster and Carolyn E. Porr of Deale, Maryland, will feel his absence for the rest of their lives. His brothers-in-law, Joseph Sweeney and M. Scott Richmond will miss his sense of humor. His stepbrothers Barton Toms, his wife Julie of Glen Mills and Cameron, husband of Rose Toms of Great Mills, MD, will miss his stories of road adventures. His brothers-in-law Richard, Jesse, Charles and William Hartman and the entire Hartman family will remember him for his loving care of Ruby. His nieces and nephews will think of him every time they hear a particular piece of music. He may be gone but his essence remains within us.

The family would like to offer a very heartfelt thank you to the caring staff at Hickory House Nursing Home in Honeybrook who lovingly tended to Robert in the last months of his life and to the compassionate and attentive staff at Lancaster General Hospital Intermediate Intensive Care Unit (especially Jelisa and Meaghan) who so serenely helped usher Robert on to his heavenly home.

There will be a public visitation at Parthemore Funeral Home, New Cumberland, PA on March 31, 2025, from 10am to 11:30am followed by a Mass at St. Theresa Catholic Church, New Cumberland starting at 12pm. Burial will be at the convenience of the family.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Humane Society of Harrisburg Area, 7790 Grayson Road, Harrisburg, PA 17111. www.humanesocietyhbg.org