Blanche Porter

CAIRO, Ill. -- Blanche Porter, 92, of Stuttgart, Ark., died Thursday, March 6, 2003, at Baptist Hospital in Little Rock, Ark.

She was born Oct. 3, 1910, in Cairo, daughter of Hamilton and Ida Mae Smith Hale. She married Henry Martin Porter, who preceded her in death.

Porter was the first female cashier in banking in the state of Illinois and was the first woman in Southern Illinois to solo an airplane.

She was a member of and had been secretary at Grand Avenue United Methodist Church. She was administrative assistant to the superintendent of Stuttgart School District many years and also served as treasurer of the school district. Porter was a former member of American Legion Auxiliary.

Survivors include two sons, Travis Porter of Little Rock, Ark., Donald Porter of Orange, Va.; four grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by two brothers and a sister.

Graveside service will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday at Cairo City Cemetery. The Rev. Kelly Cox will officiate.

Barkett Funeral Home in Cairo is in charge of arrangements.