James E. (Jim) Borden Jr. passed away peacefully on February 3, 2022, the morning of his 87th birthday. Jim was born in Miami, Florida on February 3, 1935 to parents James E. and Justina Clare (nee Brown) Borden. He attended Miami Edison High School where he was a member of the American Legion Drum and Bugle Corps. When he was 16, he travelled to New York and was declared the national junior drum champion and won the Rudamental Drummers of America trophy. He graduated from Miami Edison in 1953. From there he attended the University of Florida (go Gators!) where he graduated in 1957 with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. While attending college, he met his soon to be bride in Miami. He was wed to Darlein Ann Pilger in 1959.
Upon graduation, he took employment with the DuPont company and moved to Orange, Texas. While residing in Orange, he and Darlein’s six children were born.
The family moved to Wilmington, Delaware at the beginning of 1969, then moved to Victoria, Texas in the summer of 1971. While living in Victoria, the family went on many vacations and traveled extensively throughout the USA, all the while pulling a pop-up camper that slept 8 (6 comfortably). Jim was involved with the Catholic Church and served as a Lecter, Music Minister and Eucharistic Minister at Our Lady of Victory church, where 4 of the children also attended school through 8th grade.
Jim continued his employment with DuPont in Victoria and held multiple positions including the plant Safety Superintendent up until his retirement in 1996. After retirement, Jim and Darlein remained in Victoria, and enjoyed travelling the US and visiting far-flung places such as Dubai, England, Italy, Holland, Germany and Eastern Europe.
Jim was a loving Son, Brother, Husband, Father, Grandfather and Great Grandfather. He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Darlein, his two daughters Elizabeth (Greg) Smith and Anna (Peter) Kurupas and 4 sons Chris (Carol), David (Julie), Joe (Guadalupe) and Danny (Christi), his two brothers Clifford and Michael (Jean), his grandchildren Kate, Paul (Krystyn), Sarah (Jacob), Jennifer, Joseph, Aaron, Austin, Emily, Peter and Abby, and his 5 great-grandchildren Sam, Emilie, Nathaniel, Zachary and Hannah.
Jim is preceded in death by his parents and his grandson Aaron.
Jim was extremely proud of his family and could often be heard bragging about his wife and children. He was always there to love and support his family and friends, and will be greatly missed.
The funeral mass will be on 2 PM, Saturday, February 12, 2022 at Our Lady of Victory Cathedral.
In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that donations may be made to St. Jude Children’s Hospital.
To shared condolences and memories please visit www.rosewoodfuneralchapel.com.
