Dr. Lorle A. Porter, age 87, of Mount Vernon, passed away on Thursday, May 15, 2025.

She was born on April 7, 1938, in Mount Vernon and was the daughter to the late Robert A. and Dorothy (Downs) Porter.

Dr. Porter held a B.A. from Notre Dame College, Cleveland, an M.A. for Boston College and a Ph.D. in European Medieval History for the University of New Mexico. Later, due to the illness of her mother, she concentrated on Southeastern Ohio History, publishing ten books and winning seven awards from the Ohio Association of Historical Societies and Museums and a national award from the American Association of State and Local History. Dr. Porter was awarded the distinction of Outstanding Teacher for 1998 by the Ohio Academy of History. Upon her retirement in 1998, after a 34-year career, Muskingum University named her Regional Historian in Residence.

She was inducted into the Ohio Women's Hall of Fame in 2000. Dr Porter was quite active in New Concord civic affairs. She was a founding member of R.E. New and awarded the Dedicated Public Servant Award from New Concord in 1999. She was a founding trustee of the John & Annie Glenn Foundation and developed the Living History program at the Glenn Historic Site.

Dr. Porter was a member of St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church.

She is survived by her brother and sister-in-law, Robert S. and Becky Porter; sister, Sara (Jerry) Mann; nieces and nephews, Debra (Paul) Larrison, Patricia (Doug) Kenney, Theresa (Scott) Randall, Christina (Matt) Cudlip, Robert (Anna) Porter, Douglas (Gwen) Porter; along eight numerous great nieces and nephews.