Edward Borden

(Cloverdale) Edward Borden was born November 4, 1925 in Russellville, Alabama.  He died April 27, 2017 at the age of 91.

     Edward served in the 42nd Infantry (Rainbow) Division during World War II from 1944-1946. The 42nd Infantry Division is the oldest infantry division in the Army.  It was first formed during World War I by combining National Guard units from 27 states.  The most famous member of the first 42nd Infantry Division was Douglas MacArthur who said, “The 42nd Infantry Division stretches like a Rainbow from one end of America to the other.”  The 42nd Division was reactivated in July 14, 1943 as a division that truly represented all of America, made up of men selected from each state of the Union in proportion to its population.  On that activation day, Major General Harry J. Collins, then Brigadier General, recalled the words of General MacArthur by telling the veterans of the old Rainbow and the new inductees “The Rainbow stretches across the land and represents the people of our country.  This Division cannot fail because America cannot fail.”  During World War II, The Rainbow Division was the first division to enter Germany where a rainbow of flags from all 48 states were planted on German soil.  The Rainbow was also the first division to penetrate the Seigfried line, the first division to enter Munich, and they liberated the Dachau concentration camp in April of 1945.  After Germany surrendered, the 42nd Division served as occupation forces in Austria. 

     Upon honorable discharge, Edward returned to Central High School and graduated with the class of 1947.  The GI Bill enabled him to attend Larimore Business School after high school.  In 1950, Edward was employed as a clerk by the Bureau of Public Roads which was working to complete the Natchez Trace Parkway.  He married Barbara Moomaw in January 1952 and was transferred to Tupelo, Mississippi where they lived for two years before being transferred back to Florence.  When the Florence field office closed in 1968, Edward was offered a transfer to Arlington, VA.  Rather than move from his hometown, Edward chose to become a self-employed plumber and electrician which he did until retirement.  Edward was proud of his membership in the Cloverdale Lions Club and he was a member and past president of the Cloverdale Little League and the Cloverdale School PTA.  Edward was baptized in the fall of 2016 and became a member of the Johnson’s Crossroads Baptist Church.

     Edward was preceded in death by his wife of 65 years, Barbara, his mother Etta Williford Borden, his father Elmer Borden, sister Jewell Waynick, brothers Robert Borden, David Borden and Will Borden.  He is survived by his sons Steve Borden (Dianne) and Jeff Borden (Debbie), a daughter Becky King (Keith), grandchildren Ashley Zimnowski (Leonard), Kelly Owens (Eric), Julie King and Alex King (fiancée Tiana Lentz), great-grandchildren Olivia, Ila and Evelyn Zimnowski and Elizabeth Owens, step great-grandchildren Madilyn Wilbanks, Adam and William Sherrill, Liam Sparks, Sean, Yash, Seth and Silas Mehrotra, sisters Ophelia Horton and Helen Frazier.

     The family would like to thank Cheryl Middleton for doing an outstanding job taking care of our father in the past two months.  We also are grateful to the staff of Mitchell Hollingsworth for being so kind to Edward as he visited Barbara each day for the past four and a half years and during the three times he was a patient himself.

     Visitation will be at Greenview Funeral Home on Sunday, April 30 from 1:30-3:30 followed by the funeral service at 3:30 in the funeral home chapel with military honors.   Donnie McDaniel will officiate.  Burial will follow at Greenview Memorial Park.  Pallbearers will be Alex King, Leonard Zimnowski, Eric Owens, Dwight Borden, Patrick Borden and Tony Horton.  In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations be made to either the Cloverdale Volunteer Fire Department 11370 Highway 157 Florence, AL 35633 or to Bethel Berry Cemetery Fund c/o Judy McKelvey 7371 County Road 259 Florence, AL 35633.

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