Charles L. Borskey

Charles was born in Algoa, Texas on March 16, 1931 to Curtis and Gladys (Trafton) Borskey. A patriot by birth, he was already helping the war effort at 13 years old, as a certified observer in the III Fighter Command, Aircraft Warning Service. Though he claimed to have once spotted a Nazi submarine, it was never confirmed.

Entering the University of Texas in 1949, Charles excelled at what he called “the social aspects of higher learning.” As an Air Force ROTC cadet, he was offered a rare commission in the Air Force before he graduated. After taking a few days “to think about it in Mexico,” a reoccurring theme in his life, he was persuaded in no uncertain terms by his commanding officer that it would be wise if he returned to Texas immediately and accept the offer.

Commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in 1952, Charles became an air intercept controller guiding fighter planes on their simulated attack runs. His time in the air force yielded not only a proud record of service, but many hilarious stories. Honorably discharged from active duty after the Korean War in 1954, Charles continued to serve as a Reserve 1st Lieutenant until an oil derrick fell on him. Suffering extensive injuries, the Air Force decided his time with them should conclude.

After the Air Force, Charles was employed in oilfield service and corporate sales positions which took him around the country. It was during one of his sales calls in 1960, that he met Cleta Jane Whitman, a young secretary who would soon become his wife of almost sixty years.

Moving to El Paso in 1961, Charles co-founded his van conversion company, Sportsmobile Inc. (originally known as Sportswagon) with his father Curtis. While Curtis soon resigned, Charles ran the company until his 89th year. In 1964, Sportsmobile moved to Indiana, and in 1984, Sportsmobile Texas was founded in Austin, as Sportsmobile’s principal office. Now in its 60th year, Sportsmobile’s quality is unrivaled, and it is considered to be the longest continuously operating van conversion company in the United States.

He defined for many an ethical life. In business, he was beyond reproach. Though others through the years sometimes took a less rigorous approach with him, he never let that affect his moral compass. Fairness was his maxim and it always served him well. He was rarely known to complain about trivial matters and was always eager to encourage those who sought his sage advice and broad experience.

Charles was an incurable world traveler, constantly seeking new adventures and new friends. He, as they say, never met a stranger. With his devil-may-care attitude, he rarely made plans beyond the specific region he was going to visit, and that made his adventures all the more adventurous. Whether it be joining an entomology expedition to the Amazon as a 65-year-old volunteer assistant, touring solo across South America in rickety busses, or hiring the first taxi driver he saw in India to drive him around the Subcontinent for a month, his enthusiasm for travel was infectious. At an age when most are well into their quiet retirement years, Charles continued to pursue new and sometimes questionable experiences such as flying with acrobatic pilots, skydiving, white water rafting in Costa Rica and bungie jumping in the Yucatan.

Jane and Charles were not only funny, supportive and caring to those lucky enough to find themselves in their orbit, they were also incredibly generous to those they loved and many they had never met. He was most especially fond of his dogs and was as indulgent with them as a proud parent could be. Train Track, Bullseye and Bullet were his frequent companions on his spontaneous road trips west. They all enjoyed his company as much as he did theirs. Bullet was with him to the end. His constant source of unconditional love and unreserved loyalty.

Charles was preceded in death by his wife Cleta “Jane” Borskey and his brother and occasional partner in crime, James “Hal” Cobb. Charles will be desperately missed by his sons, Randy, and his wife, Kathy of Huntington, Indiana and Mark and his wife, Chrissy, of Austin, Texas; grandson, Eric Martin and great-grandson, Josiah Spath; Brothers Ray Bird and his wife Mary and Ben Bird and his wife Lourdes and daughter Linda; Stepmother, Mary Borskey; Sister-in-Law Jeanie Cobb; niece Terri Boatman and her husband Joey; nephew Jason and his wife Erin; cousin Gary Ellis and his wife Estella and their daughter Cindy and her husband Randy Rosen; brother-in-law Jerry Whitman and his wife Yvonne and their children Eric, Darin and Julia; nieces Kelly and Ashley Wallace and their daughters Alexis and Gabby ; grand niece Kristin Wheeler and her mother and stepfather Kay and Dan Taylor; his colleague and friend, Paul Meyer; and numerous other relatives, colleagues and friends.

There will be a Celebration of Life Service at Weed-Corley-Fish North Lamar on Saturday, March, 27th from 11:30am to 2:00pm.

The family requests that in lieu of flowers please consider a donation to your favorite charity.