-
| Gender |
Female |
| Person ID |
I54216 |
Sackett | Descendants of Thomas Sacket the Elder, Descendants of Simon Sackett the Colonist |
| Last Modified |
5 Jul 2019 |
| Father |
Borden, Robert Lee, b. 8 Aug 1924, Long Beach, Los Angeles County, California, USA  , d. 13 Jul 2009, West Covina, Los Angeles County, California, USA (Age 84 years) |
| Mother |
Forrest, Ruth Meriel, b. 20 Nov 1926, Reading, Berkshire, England, UK , d. 16 Dec 1995, West Covina, Los Angeles County, California, USA (Age 69 years) |
| Married |
5 Jul 1945 |
Denver, City and County of Denver, Colorado, USA [1, 2] |
| Children |
|
| Family ID |
F20687 |
Group Sheet | Family Chart |
-
| Notes |
At least one living or private individual is linked to this note - Details withheld. |
-
| Sources |
- [S2160] Johnson Family Tree, hortons98, (Ancestry.com), 4 Jul 2019.
Robert Lee Borden
1924-2009
Birth 8 AUG 1924 - Long Beach, Los Angeles, California, United States
Death 13 JUL 2009 - San Dimas, Los Angeles, California, USA
Marriage
5 Jul 1945 - Denver, Colorado, USA
Ruth "Jean" Meriel Forrest
1926-1995
Birth 20 NOV 1926 - Reading, Berkshire, England
Death 16 DEC 1995 - West Covina, Los Angeles, California, United States
Researched by Ted Smith
- [S958] Legacy, (Legacy.com) (Reliability: 3), 4 Jul 2019.
BORDEN-Robert L. Borden, a man of God, family, country and community passed away on June 13, surrounded by his family at the Clara Baldwin Stocker home. For a half-century, he was a driving force behind many of the key institutions of West Covina. His legacy can be seen in his church, historic places and the people of West Covina but most importantly in his family and friends. Born August 8, 1924 in Long Beach , a grandson of that City's fou nding family, he was the youngest boy of nine children. His father, a Major in the National Guard, was an official with what is now the Department of Veterans Affairs. The family traveled the West for his work which included running the Los Angeles Soldiers' Home, now the West Los Angeles VA , where Bob spent many of his formative years. As signs of war darkened America's horizons, the older brothers followed their father into the military. Richard survived Pearl Harbor as Bob was finishing high school. Fo llowing an unfocused stint at Colorado State University ROTC, Bob enlisted in the Army at Camp Custer, MI. Stationed in Reading, England, as a military policeman, he broke up pub fights and captured scofflaw GIs. When one miscreant opted not to go peacefully, a vulgar brawl ensued in full view of the residents. Among the on-lookers, Ruth "Jean" Forrest was smitten by the brave MP, despite his brutish vocabulary. Corporal Borden got his man and his girl! Bob and Jean were married on July 5, 1945, just days before he boarded a troop ship bound for Japan. When the atomic bombs forced the Emperor's surrender, Bob was soon back home in Denver and quickly summoned his bride. Their family soon grew with the addition of their daughter, Meredith, not long before Bob finished his accounting degree at the University of Denver. They soon drove West, over the Rockies in a tiny Crosley automobile, so Bob could join his brothers in their Pico Rivera construction business. In 1954, they moved to Morada Street in West Covi na . In both places, they established friendships that last to this day. In 1965, they moved to Herring Avenue, near West Covina High School where Meredith would graduate. Here they would live out the rest of their days. To help Meredith's aspiring dance career along, several times a week, Bob drove home from downtown Los Angeles, picked her up, then headed back all the way to Santa Monica for professional lessons. She had caught the dancing bug from her mother, whom Bob helped set-up a dance instruction b usiness, which lasted until she became ill. Professionally, Bob spent two decades with Certified Grocers of California (CERGRO), retiring as their bakery and dairy plant manager. He headed the Southern California Bakery Production Club, fighting oven emission regulations with a media and lobbying effort. He retired in 1990, intent on travel and wood carving. Those plans were cut short. Jean was struck by Lou Gherig's Disease in 1990. Bob poured his essence into caring for her, nursing her until her final night. Bob joined forces with his fellow Elks John Hughes and Bill Vann to grow the West Covina Elks Muscular Dystrophy Association Chili Cook-Off. It soon became the heart of the City's July 4 Celebration, with Bob coordinating the day's entertainment. To date, they have raised nearly $2 million for the MDA, much of it for the Jean Borden Research Fund at Good Samaritan Hospital. They celebrated their 50th Wedding Anniversary in grand style at St. Martha's, though Jean was confined to a wheel chair. Five months later, just before Christmas of 1995, Jean died at home. Part of Bob died as well his family and friend could see. Throughout his 55 years in West Covina , Bob was a pillar of the community. An early member of St. Martha's Episcopal Church from the days when it met at the old Sunset School , he served several terms on the parish vestry and as its junior warden. Both political conservatives, Bob & Jean were active at all levels, campaigning for Goldwater, Reagan and a young upstart from Claremont na med David Dreier. They worked tirelessly for City Council candidates like Forest Tennant, Herb Tice, Bill Tarozzi and Ben Wong as well as the West Covina Republican Club. Known for his generosity and commitment to helping others, he spent countless hours helping individuals and institutions throughout the community They took in one of Jean's brothers for several years, when he needed help. Through St. Martha's he was instrumental in establishing an adult day-care center at Orangewood School. In the late 9 0s, Bob joined the Barn Boys, a historic group of long time area residents led by Joe Hurst, son of one of the city's founding farmers. Bob soon took an active role in the group, and, after Joe died, helped establish the Hurst Ranch Foundation to preserve a piece of West Covina as it stood in 1923. Bob served as president of the Foundation for several years, stepping down only when his health began to fail. A life-long carpenter and wood carver, he dedicated a variety of projects to Jean's memory. He remod eled the parish kitchen at St. Martha's and restored the West Covina Historical Society's Heritage House kitchen to its original look as well as a farm wagon at the Hurst Ranch, while his detailed carvings adorn various places there and St. Martha's. Bob survived numerous bouts with cancer, the first requiring major surgery in 1979, and fought the disease for most of the last decade in various forms, ultimately succumbing to an unrelated stroke. Robert L. Borden is survived by his brother Richard, sister Lou Ella Atkins, daughter Meredith and grandchildren Robert C. J. Parry and Arianne Parry. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be sent to: Jean and Bob Borden Neuromuscular Research Fund, Good Samaritan Hospital c/o W. King Engle M.D. Neuromuscular Center, 3rd Floor 637 So. Lucas St . Los Angeles, CA 90017 A full funeral service will be held on Wednesday, July 22, at 10:00 a.m. at St. Martha's, 520 S. Lark Ellen, in West Covina.
Published in San Gabriel Valley Tribune on July 18, 2009
Researched by Ted Smith
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