Service is Saturday for Henry J. Potter Jr.

Published 12:00 am Thursday, June 5, 2008

Henry J. Potter Jr., 82, of Bowling Green died at 3:32 p.m. June 3, 2008, at The Medical Center.

The Bowling Green native was born Aug. 7, 1925. He was a 1943 graduate of Bowling Green High School and attended Western Kentucky University. He graduated from Vanderbilt School of Law in 1951. Upon returning to Bowling Green, he worked as a deputy court clerk under County Clerk Oval Motley and as assistant commonwealth’s attorney under Warren Commonwealth’s Attorney William H. Natcher. He practiced law under the firm Francis and Potter, which later became Francis, Potter and English. He was elected and served as Warren County Attorney from 1962-1977 and took office Jan. 1, 1978, as Warren District Court judge, Division Two, being one of the original state court district judges, where he served until his retirement March 4, 2000. He served in the Army during World War II and was later commissioned in the Army Reserve, completing his service as a major in the 8830 Military Police Battalion. He was a member of The American Legion, Post 23, and Veterans of Foreign Wars, Post 1298. He was a member of First Christian Church. He served in various civic and public organizations, including past president of the Bowling Green Warren County Jaycees from 1956-1957, Jaycees state vice president from 1957-1958 and was one of the founding board members of Girls Inc. Judge Potter loved public service and was a loving husband, father, grandfather and friend to many. He was a son of the late Henry J. Potter Sr., former mayor of Bowling Green, and Era Childress Potter. He was preceded in death by a son, Gary J. Potter; a brother, Dr. Sam C. Potter Sr.; and a sister, Sara Anne Potter.

Funeral is at 11 a.m. Saturday at J.C. Kirby & Son Funeral Home, Lovers Lane chapel, with burial in Fairview No. 2 Cemetery. Visitation is from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. today and from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday at the funeral home.

Expressions of sympathy may take the form of contributions to First Christian Church Building Fund, 1106 State St., Bowling Green, KY 42101; The American Cancer Society, Greenwood Courtyard, 2524 Scottsville Road, Ste. 123, Bowling Green, KY 42101; or to the charity of one’s choice.

Online condolences may be made at www.jckirbyandson.com.

Survivors include his wife of 61 years, Juanita Potter; a son, Warren District Court Judge Brent J. Potter and his wife, Sandra; three grandchildren, Brandon, Justin and Ryan; a sister, Jane Hall of Loomis, Calif.; a half brother, Nat Douglas Potter and his wife, Ann, of Spring, Texas; a sister-in-law, Marilyn M. Potter of Bowling Green; three nephews, Warren District Court Judge Sam C. Potter Jr. and his wife, Paula, of Bowling Green, Mark Hall and his wife, Dianne, of Fairview, Wyo., and Sean H. Potter of San Diego; two nieces, Marla Hall Pingree and her husband, Jeff, of New Castle, Calif., and Haley Katherine Potter of Spring; three great-nieces; and a great-nephew.