Robert Samuel Porch

Robert Samuel Porch, 96, of Elkhart, IN entered eternal rest on Sunday, January 4, 2026, with family by his side. He was born on April 7, 1929, in Chattanooga, TN (the 1st of three boys) to the late Samuel C. and Henrietta (Parks) Porch. He married Maxine Colombo Porch in 1957. Maxine preceded him in death in 1993. And in 2011, 18 years later, Bob married Elaine (Armstrong) Larnard.

Bob is survived by his wife, Elaine, his children: Penny and David Rodriguez of Indianapolis, Dan and Laurie Porch of Arden Hills, MN; Elaine’s children: Julie and Chris Havens of Mishawaka, IN, and Jeffery Larnard of Sebring, FL. Bob is also survived by grandchildren Barry Rodriguez, Lucy King, Benjamin Porch, Seth Porch, Mitchell Porch, Anna Adamson, and Lyndi Porch, along with 6 step-grandchildren, and 26 great-grandchildren. Bob is survived by his brother, Harry and Sharon Porch of Roswell, GA.

Bob was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Maxine, and his brother, Dr. Bill Porch.

After graduating from Bob Jones University, Bob proudly served in the U.S. Navy as a corpsman, providing medical care to Marines. He then continued his education at Columbia International University, the University of Georgia, and Luther Rice Seminary, where he earned a Doctorate in Family Ministry.

Gentle and kind by nature, Bob had a deep heart for missions and teaching. He served as both a teacher and principal in schools throughout South America, including the Dominican Republic, Peru, Ecuador, and Bolivia. Bob also served many years in public education at Chatsworth Elementary School. He was deeply involved in the community, especially in the First Baptist Church where he taught Sunday School, sang in the choir, served as a deacon, and as ‘Ranger Bob’ at youth camps.

After Maxine died, Bob, by then retired from teaching, moved back to South America to revive his career of teaching missionary kids in Bolivia and Ecuador. After this he spent many years serving at the home base of South America Mission in Lake Worth, FL, doing whatever jobs needed to be done.

Deeply proud of his family, Bob cherished time spent with them even when it meant crossing an ocean to be with them. At home, he found joy in raising orchids and other plants in his greenhouse to share with others. At one time, back behind the house in Peru, he was proudly tending to more than 50 different varieties.

Bob, Dad, Uncle Bob, Ranger Bob, Mr. Porch will be missed by the many lives he touched through his service, his ministry, and his faithful love for others. His infl uence will live on through the lives of those touched by God’s hand working through his life!

A life well lived is a life that boasts in the faithfulness of God. Though not perfect, Bob found the perfect nature and the abounding promises of his God worth investing in with all his life! His greatest desire for each one of us would be that we too would invest the years of our life in the treasure of this God.

A memorial service to celebrate the life of Bob Porch will be 1:00 pm Saturday, March 7, 2026, from Chatsworth First Baptist Church.

The family will receive friends at the church from 12:00 pm until 1:00 pm and after the service.

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