One of the most gracious, lovely, caring and compassionate women we've ever known has been reunited with the earthly family that blazed a trail for her, and we can only imagine the joy and celebration that has greeted her. In true style, Barbara Belle Lambourne Borg slipped away while nobody was looking near midnight on Saturday, December 6, 2014, almost exactly four months after her 92nd birthday.
Barbara was born on August 7, 1922, in Salt Lake City to Ernest and Gerda Belle Weiler Lambourne. She attended East High School, and was often chided for being tardy for class despite living just one-half block away. A 1940 graduate of East, she attended the University of Utah, where one day in 1941, on the steps of the Park Building, she caught the eye of a tall, handsome, athletic accounting student named Douglas Borg, and the romance began. They were married on June 26, 1942, and a 57-year relationship was launched. Doug was thought by most to be the best fastpitch softball pitcher in the state from the time he was just 16. He pitched a Utah team to a second-place national finish in Clearwater, Florida in 1953. Like all softball wives, Barb spent countless nights at White Park and other softball venues around the region. Barb was always there rooting for Doug, who was inducted into the Utah Sports Hall of Fame in 1972.
In later years, Barb and Doug traveled with Gene Fullmer, who successfully defeated Sugar Ray Robinson, TWICE, and became the "World Middleweight Champion." Doug was part of the management team for Gene and Don Fullmer, as well as Rex Layne, serving with Marv Jenson and Fran Haun. The title bouts took Doug and Barb all around the world, thrills Barb never forgot. All the while, she raised five beautiful children ‚ Doug, Jr., Kathy, David, Richard and Jamie.
Barbara was a history buff, and read volumes about everywhere and anywhere in the world. On any trip taken, she could tell her family or other traveling companions more than any of the tour guides they encountered. She also had a very green thumb, and her yard flourished from the guidance she got from her Dad, Ernest, who had the first floral shop in Salt Lake ‚ Lambourne Floral. Her yard was always a perfectly planned masterpiece. She maintained that dedication to her garden right through the end of this past summer.
Barb was a very funny lady, and could hold her own in any wisecracking session (she said it was something "she learned from being around ballplayers all her life.") She was also an avid fan of the Utah Stars, the Salt Lake Golden Eagles and the Utah Jazz. In the early 70's, Barb helped improve the acoustics in the original Salt Palace Arena by persuading the powers-that-be to hang drapes around the interior of the circular Arena "drum," thereby deadening the harshness of sound bouncing off the concrete blocks. The impact was instantaneous, and the Salt Palace immediately became one of the loudest professional venues in the country.
It's doubtful there was any more accomplished "crossword puzzle" extraordinaire in the entire country. She did the daily puzzles in both Salt Lake newspapers and would also do the one in the New York Times (until she figured out they weren't much of a challenge ‚ she knew all the answers!) She even did them over the phone with her New Yorker son, Richard, and during her time at Highland Care Center, she sat up and did them with the night shift nurses!
Barb was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, her brother Richard (one-time Chairman of the Ford Foundation), and her children ‚ Doug, Jr. (Carolyn), David and James, along with her beloved little Shih tzu buddy of 14 years, Bijoux. She is survived by her daughter Kathryn (Chuck) Schell of Salt Lake City, and son Richard (Doris) of New York City. Also survived by grandchildren Rebecca, Rachel, Emily, Harper, Ashley, Jada, Abra and Chloe, as well as five great-grandchildren and special friends Sue and Frank Arnold and Joanie Suazo.
Memorial services will be held at L'Orangerie at Red Butte Gardens (300 Wakara Way) on Friday, December 12, 2014, at 11AM. Light refreshments will be served there following the service. Graveside dedication and interment will follow the reception at Salt Lake City Cemetery at approximately 2PM.
Barb would want us all to love each other, and to take care of Mother Earth, particularly the Native Americans.
