Jane "Molly" Bingham Porter

"Bill" and "Molly" are together again-- Jane “Molly” Ardell Bingham Porter, age 96, of Niles, OH, passed away on March 29, 2020, at Shepherd of the Valley in Niles, OH. She will be greatly missed by her daughters, Patricia (Harold) Wilson Joyner of Collierville, TN, Billie Jane (Douglas) Neuman of Niles, OH, and Linda (Jack) Foster of Long Branch, NJ, eight grandchildren, and eleven great grandchildren. Jane is survived by her sisters, Arlene Logan of Gustavus, OH, Shirley Keeler of Kinsman, OH, and Mary Lou Kidwell of Kinsman, OH. She was preceded in death by her brother, Robert (Bob) Bingham, in 1987, her sister, Laura (Jack) Hammons, in 2019, and her husband of 59 years, William (Bill) Arthur Porter, in 2005. Jane was born January 11, 1924, in Gustavus, OH, to Glenn “Ted” and Cora (Semler) Bingham. She helped her Dad on the farm by driving the horse behind the disc in the fields and guiding the horse to run the hay fork in the barn. It was also her job to listen to the Cleveland Indians on the radio and run to the barn with updates. She taught school years before she got her degree from Kent State. During college she sang on the radio and wrote jingles. She worked at Packard Electric during the war years. After marriage, Jane helped run Sportland, a busy sporting goods store in Warren, OH, owned with her husband, Bill. For the first few years after marrying in 1946, the family lived in and around Warren, OH, then Andover, OH (1955-1962), Alliance, OH (1962-1968), Steamboat Springs, CO (1968-1971) and Geneva, OH (1971-1979). After Bill retired in 1979, they lived in Geneva-on-the-Lake, OH, in the summers and Florida in the winters. Jane began entertaining by singing with her sisters around the Gustavus/Kinsman area. Later she performed with a gospel quartet throughout the state, directed choirs in several communities, and sang and played with Bill in Dixieland bands in Ohio and Florida. Jane was a soloist but also played alto sax and banjo. She and Bill loved to dance, and she played and taught bridge. She enjoyed entertaining others well into her 90s. Jane’s other great interest was travel. She and Bill visited all 50 states. One of their most memorable cruises was through the Panama Canal. Other highlights were trips to Mexico, Canada, Europe, and a vacation “Around the World in 80 Days.” The family is having a private service at Baumgardner Funeral & Cremation Service, 8569 Main Street, Kinsman, OH. Jane will be buried next to Bill in Johnston Cemetery in Johnston Township, OH. Those wishing to share a fond memory or condolence may visit www.baumgardnerfuneralhomes.com

Service Information

Cemetery

Johnston Cemetery

OH