Edward Porcher Whitner
Born January 13, 1945 in Orlando, FloridaPassed October 22, 2024 in Rockledge, Florida
On Tuesday, October 22, 2024, Major (USMC ret.) Edward Porcher Whitner, of Rockledge, Florida, passed away peacefully at home in his sleep with his beloved wife Jane at his side. Known as Ned to friends and family throughout his life, he lived a full life marked by service, adventure, and
fellowship with those close to him.
Born January 13, 1945 to Edward Levy Whitner, former first baseman for the New York Yankees, and Katherine Porcher Whitner, of the historic Porcher Family from Cocoa, Florida, Ned spent his youth growing up in Winter Park, Florida where he excelled as an early high school football standout.
Hearing the call to service, upon graduating from Winter Park High School in 1963, he attended LaGrange College and then Auburn University where he entered the Platoon Leaders Class attending Officer Candidate School sessions in the summer. During the school year he worked full time in odd jobs to put himself through college, ultimately graduating with a Bachelors in Education with a major in History. Upon graduation from Auburn University in 1968, he was commissioned as an Infantry Officer in the United States Marine Corps. Assigned to Vietnam with the 2nd Battalion 7th Marine Division, he led a platoon of Marines through an arduous deployment in the jungles of Quang Nam Province. Following his service in Vietnam he began his family with the birth of his first son Glen, followed by his son Case, and daughter Jacki as he transitioned to duty stations in the San Diego area. With the desire to be more present in his children’s lives, he transitioned to the USMC Reserves in 1978 having served in Vietnam, the greater Pacific Rim, and the Mediterranean.
After military service Ned worked a variety of professions in San Diego and Colorado, eventually developing expertise as a real estate broker and choosing to resettle in his family’s ancestral home of Brevard County. Over the years he served his community as one of the foremost educators in real estate brokerage franchising and business development, eventually operating his own successful consultancy.
In the course of his journey he met his second wife, Jane Nilon Whitner, a longtime Brevard County educator, and moved to Melbourne Beach, Florida where he helped raise her daughter Kristi, and they welcomed their only child together, Michael.
With his larger than life presence and approachable personality he spent the next 43 years delighting neighbors with his elaborate holiday displays, hosting block party garage sales, mentoring athletes, supporting his wife’s classes with pumpkin carving demonstrations, and other random acts of kindness. On multiple occasions, most notably in 1992 following Hurricane Andrew, he, without request or plan, packed up as many tools and supplies as he could find into his Suburban and headed towards his friends in need. He would spend weeks clearing debris, chain sawing trees, and helping friends and their communities repair what had been damaged.
In retirement, he continued to seek new experiences, creating a knife and tool retail business, known as “Ned’s Knives” traveling around the state of Florida’s gun shows, volunteering as announcer and DJ for 6 years as the “Voice of the Bulldogs” for Melbourne High School’s baseball and softball teams and rekindling his passion for painting with hours spent recreating historic Florida landscapes.
Ned was an incredible husband, father, friend, and neighbor. He lived his life in service to others and cared deeply about those he shared his life with. The hole left by his absence will be felt throughout the remainder of the lives of those who loved him and the impacts he made will
continue to ripple throughout the history of his beloved home, Brevard County, for a long time to come.
He is survived by his wife Jane; children Glen, Case, Jacki, Michael; step-daughter Kristi; fifteen grand-children; and many beloved friends and extended family.
A Celebration of Life service and reception will be held at VFW Post 4206, 3201 Dairy Road, West Melbourne, on Thursday, October 31, 2024 between 11:00 am and 2:00 pm. All who knew and cared for Ned are encouraged to attend. Drinks and food will be provided. Dress code is to come as you are,
Hawaiian shirt optional.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to a GoFundme set up for his wife Jane who continues to battle Parkinson’s Disease. Ned was her primary caretaker and the funds donated will go directly to costs created by his absence related to her care: