Vernon Aubrey Porter Jr.

Vernon Aubrey Porter, Jr (also known as: Vernon, Bubba, Junior, or Porter), born February 21, 1928, in Arlington, Texas to Vernon and Mary Porter and left this world to join Jesus in Heaven on August 30, 2024, at the age of 96.

Vernon joined the Army in 1953. He and Frances met in Burnett, Texas during his time in the Army and she was in nursing school. They literally married the day after his discharge and for 69 years shared a beautiful marriage together in Arlington, Texas.

He began his career as a mechanic with the White Motor Company in Fort Worth in 1948, becoming service manager, and then regional service manager, followed by regional sales manager. He purchased the White Trucks dealership in Fort Worth in 1970 as Fort Worth White Trucks, later renamed to Fort Worth Truck Center as a Freightliner Trucks dealership. Purchased Dallas Freightliner in 1977 and Frontier GMC (light, medium and heavy-duty trucks) in 1979. He sold the Freightliner franchises in 1992 and opened Truck Center of Fort Worth in 1993 as an independent service and sales dealership, adding VE Enterprises and Vantage Trailers to the lines for the Oil & Gas industries. Western Star Trucks joined the lineup from 1998 through 2002.

He was a loved and respected part of the American trucking industry for more than 60 years. Over the years, Vernon served the trucking industry in many ways. He, among other long time “old-school” truck dealers, transformed the truck dealer/OEM relationships and laid the groundwork for what we now enjoy as a vibrant and healthy new and used commercial truck industry. During the 70’s and 80’s, through high interest rates and soaring inflation, he managed to keep on trucking and grow the business and the industry many of us love.

Over the years in Fort Worth and Dallas, he probably employed, sold to or worked with just about everyone who was in the trucking business through the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s. Multiple generations benefited from his knowledge and willingness to teach and serve.

In his younger years, when he was not working, he enjoyed bowling, later traveling, and going on cruises with Frances and friends. He loved the spectacle of the Interlochen Christmas lights every year, making them bigger and brighter than anyone else each season, and seeing the joy it brought to others who braved the traffic to see those lights.

Vernon served on many Associations/Committees/Boards throughout his life. He was a lifetime member American Truck Dealers and ATD Dealer Council, Associates Gold Wheel Dealer Group, Freightliner Dealer Council and Freightliner line representative, Freightliner Make Group, Dealer Twenty Groups, Texas Truck Dealers Association (president and member), Tarrant County New Car Dealers Association (president and member), Rockwell dealer Advisory Board, Eaton dealer Board, Cummins Dealer Board, National Automobile Dealers Associations, Past President Fort Worth Bowling Association, and Lake Interlochen Home Owners Association (President and Board member).

Vernon was a loving husband, father, grandfather, and friend and he will be dearly missed.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Vernon and Mary Porter, sisters, Margueritte (Sissy) and Ruby Jewel.

Vernon’s legacy lives on through his wife, Frances Porter; daughters, Cathlene Brown, Audrey Porter and husband, Ignacio; sons, Michael Porter and wife, Carmele and Anthony Porter and wife, Renee; 12 grandchildren, 12 great grandchildren; and 3 great-great grandchildren.

To honor and remember Vernon, the family will hold a celebration of life on September 18, 2024, at 2:00 PM at Crossroads Arlington Church, 3221 West Pioneer Parkway, Arlington, Texas 76013.

In Lieu of flowers, please make memorial contributions to: A charity of your choice or your local Community Hospice.