Pennsylvania Engineer and Gunsmith Jim Borden Dies After Pancreatic Cancer Battle

Jim Borden, a devoted husband, father, and grandfather from Springville, Pennsylvania, passed away on September 27, 2026, after a long battle with pancreatic cancer. He was born on March 4, 1951, in Wellsboro, Pennsylvania, to Joseph Roy Borden and Betty Mae Hammond Borden.

Borden grew up working in his family's business, J.P. Borden and Son, which included auto repair, sporting goods, appliances, machining, and gunsmithing. He developed practical skills that shaped his future, including auto mechanics, electrical work, plumbing, heating, and masonry.

After graduating from Wellsboro Area High School in 1969, Borden attended Pennsylvania State University, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering on March 24, 1973. He married Joan Elaine Plumley the same year and began his career at Charmin Paper Products, later Procter & Gamble.

Borden was an accomplished engineer, serving in various roles in maintenance management, engineering leadership, project management, human resources training, and product development. He also founded Borden Accuracy, also known as Borden Rifles, which became a successful business based on his engineering expertise and craftsmanship.