Van Hinton Porter, 86, of West Columbia, a long-serving pastor, died Feb. 19, 2010.
Van PorterBorn in Williston, he served in World War II on the European front and was awarded a Purple Heart.
He was a graduate of North Greenville College and a 1950 graduate of Furman University, during which time he was elected state president of Baptist Student Union. He attended Southwestern Seminary for three years and transferred to Southeastern Seminary, where he was a member of the school’s first graduating class.
He pastored churches in Texas, North Carolina and South Carolina, in addition to serving as interim and supply pastor at numerous South Carolina churches.
Survivors include his wife, Ann N. Porter, three sons, seven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.