William Borden

William G. Borden died peacefully on Saturday, May 12. He had recently celebrated his 85th birthday. William spent his first years on Grand Street in Jersey City, New Jersey, just across the Hudson River from the Statue of Liberty. After his father's work moved the family to Toledo, William grew up at the corner of Indiana and Detroit Avenues, where his father operated a repair shop and confectionary.
After graduating from Scott High School with the Class of 1941, William worked for Driggs Dairy before answering his Nation's call to service in the Second World War. Enlisting in the U.S. Army, William served as a Tank Commander during the campaign in the Pacific Theater. There he participated in the Battle of Leyte, among other major actions.
Returning to civilian life, William joined United Auto Workers Local 12 when he took a job at the Swartzbaugh Manufacturing Company. William eventually became an International Representative of the UAW and contributed to the formation of the UAW's Toledo Area Pension Plan. William was one of the inaugural board members of the Plan, which is still serving workers and remains one of his proudest career achievements.
As a member of the UAW's Political Action Committee, William made numerous trips to Columbus and Washington on behalf of the union's interests. William also spent countless hours at the Local 12 Children's Summer Camp in Sand Lake, Michigan, helping to run recreational programs for generations of youth. William was involved in numerous civil rights initiatives and served as one of the local organizers of a Northwest Ohio delegation to the famous March on Washington in 1963, where he was a firsthand witness to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s immortal "I Have a Dream" speech.
In his spare time, William excelled as a fast pitch softball player. As the second baseman for the Toledo Buddies of the Toledo Industrial Sports League, William helped his team win league championships through the early 1950s. In his retirement William remained an avid baseball fan, particularly for his favorite teams, the New York Yankees and the Toledo Mud Hens. William also continued to assist his fellow union retirees by serving as an informal advisor on pensions and health benefits.
Preceded in death by his wife, Aveline, William is survived by their five children: Michael (Christine) of Florida; Mary Jo (Dr. Lawrence) Connin of Toledo; Patrick (Lynn) of Michigan; Mark, of Washington, D.C.; and Dr. Timothy, of Toledo. He is also survived by five grandchildren: Christopher, Erin, Katelin, Emily, and Thomas. A lifelong animal lover, William is also survived by his faithful canine companion, Millie.
The family will receive guests at the Newcomer Funeral Home, 4150 W. Laskey Road, on Tuesday, May 15 from 4-7pm. Private interment at Toledo Memorial Park.

The family requests any donations in William's memory to be made to the Toledo Humane Society.

Expressions of sympathy may be made at www.NewcomerFamily.com.