- Date Of Birth: May 1, 1934
- Date Of Death: January 27, 2022
- State: Indiana
Mildred “Millie” Josephine Porter, 87, of Indianapolis, and formerly of Carbondale, Illinois, passed away on Thursday, January 27, 2022. She was born on May 1st, 1934 in Brooklyn, New York, to the late Otis and Irene (Russell) Peppers. After her mother’s untimely death her father, Otis, moved his family to the Hurst/Bush area of Southern Illinois.
Her father remarried and had several other children all of which Millie helped raise being the oldest child. Millie met her first husband William (Bill) Dean Walker at a Teen Tower dance and after a short courtship and despite the concerns of Bill’s family ran off to Kentucky and were married. Millie being 16 years and Bill 17 years old.
Pauline Walker, Bill’s mother, had a great deal of influence on Millie’s future life leading her toward domestic skills and showing in Millie’s often stated words, “Pauline taught me about the love that God has for us His children.” These two areas of education inspired greatly Millie’s many future accomplishments in her very talented and accomplished life.
Unfortunately, the marriage between Millie and Bill was rocky and difficult leaving Millie much of the burden of a single parent with her two sons, Michael Dean Walker and Randal Joseph Walker.
Millie went on to raise her boys with care, diligence and the “fear of God” that they would never suffer the poverty, neglect or abuse that she experienced in her own childhood. To accomplish this, she often held down two jobs and because of her talent and determination was able to work her way into better paying and more responsible employment. Millie’s example, despite Millie’s own difficult and impoverished upbringing, was a great inspiration to her two boys both of which have stayed faithful to their Christian upbring and in maintaining responsible gainful employment!
After her first marriage failed and having raised her boys, she married Wendel Porter in 1966.
Wendel died in 1986 leaving her husbandless again. She continued to live alone in their home being retired.
She is survived by two sons, Fr. Michael D. Walker and Randal J. Walker and their wives, Rebecca and Carol Ann Walker; three grandchildren, Tyler Walker and his wife, Annie, Sarah Walker and Timothy Walker and his wife Lauren; two great-grandchildren, Holly and Annie; special niece, Pam; special great-niece, Paige. She was preceded in death by her parents; sister, Lucille; and niece, Michelle.
