Debra K. Porterfield

Debra K. Porterfield
56, of Indianapolis died Saturday, April 19, 2008, in Methodist Hospital surrounded by her family. She was the culinary arts/food industry teacher at McKenzie Career Center, where she had been employed for 19 years, and where her Lawrence Township students operated Bernie's Place, a restaurant open to the public.
Before moving to Indiana with her family, she had worked in dietary at Massillon City Hospital at Massillon and Country Club Health Center in Dover and had taught culinary arts/food industry at Buckeye Career Center in New Philadelphia, all in Ohio.
Born May 17, 1951 at Dover, Ohio a daughter of Merlyn and Doris Keener of Bolivar, Ohio, she also had resided at Bolivar and was a graduate of Tuscarawas Valley High and Kent State University. In addition, she did post-graduate work at Indiana University/Purdue University and Indiana Wesleyan University at Indianapolis.
She was married July 16, 1977, to Robert Porterfield, who survives. Also surviving in addition to her husband and parents, are two daughters and a son, Megan Porterfield, Susan (Ian) Kohlhaas and Andrew Porterfield of Indianapolis; three grandchildren, Lance, Elizabeth and Charles Kohlhaas; three sisters, Sandra (Tedd) Finlayson of Bolivar, Ohio, Brenda (John) Bitikofer of Strasburg, Ohio and Melissa Lawrence of Massillon, Ohio; three sisters-in-law, Kathy (Jan) Craig of Dover, Sandy Morrison of Strasburg, Ohio, and Barb (Fred) Cronebach of New Philadelphia, Ohio; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Friends may call Thursday, April 24, 2008 from 5 8 p.m in the Toland-Herzig Funeral Home's and Crematory at 803 N. Wooster Ave., Dover, Ohio 44622. Funeral services will follow on Friday, April 25, 2008 at 11:00 a.m. at the funeral home. Interment will be at the Dover Burial Park.
The family requests that memorials be made to the Debra Porterfield Scholarship Fund for Excellence in the Culinary Arts at McKenzie Career Center, 7250 E. 75th St., Indianapolis, Indiana 46256.
Friends are invited to sign the online guest book for Mrs. Porterfield at www.tolanhderzig.com.