RICHARD L. BORN

Richard L. Born Aug. 8, 1923 - Oct. 3, 2015 NILES - Richard L. Born, age 92 years, of Niles, Michigan died with his family gathered around at 11:40 p.m. on Saturday, October 2, 2015 at West Woods of Niles following a brief illness. He was born on August 8, 1923 in South Bend, Indiana to Ray E. and Esther (Chartier) Born.

He graduated from South Bend Clay High School, and was a veteran of World War II, serving in the United States Army Air Corps. He was stationed on Iwo Jima, and was a witness to the now iconic first raising of the United States flag. He was first employed at the former Studebaker Corporation, then at Sobenite Plastics, and finally for the South Bend Community School Corporation. Typically his skills in electronics repair especially radios - was put to good use for each employer.

Richard was a member of Saint Mary Catholic Church in Niles, of the Knights of Columbus Father Allouez Chapter #708 in Niles, and of the American Legion Post #26 in Niles. He was a founding member of the Four Flags Amateur Radio Club, and held the personal call sign "K8UYH". He enjoyed fishing, vegetable gardening, and sailing on area lakes where he has won several races. He also enjoyed his home workshop, again liking to work on electronics, but also had successes with his home winery, using grapes from area vineyards to make wines that were good enough for wedding tables. On April 14, 1951 in Chicago, Illinois he married the former Mary Dorothy Sloan with whom he celebrated the remarkable sixtieth anniversary of their wedding prior to her death on February 4, 2012.

Surviving family includes their children, Anne Born of Bronx, New York and Maureen (& Jeffrey) Born Sturgeon of Vienna, Austria; grandchildren, Graceanna Baird, Mary Dorothy Baird, Charles Baird, Lucy Alice Baird, and Anthony Sturgeon; a son-in-law, Michael Baird, Ph.D. of Cincinnati, Ohio; and Richard's brother, Harold Born of South Bend, Indiana.

The Mass of Christian Burial for Richard Born will be celebrated at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, October 7, 2015 at Saint Mary Catholic Church in Niles by the Rev. Alphonse Savarimuthu, MSFS of the parish. Committal Rites will be read at Calvary Cemetery, and will conclude with Full Military Honors by the United States Air Force Honor Guard, and American Legion Post #51 of Buchanan. The family will receive relatives and friends on Tuesday from 6:00 until 8:00 p.m. at the Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles, with recitation of The Rosary at 7:30 p.m. Contributions in memory of Richard Born may be made to Saint Mary Catholic Church. www.halbritterfunerals.com

Published by South Bend Tribune on Oct. 5, 2015.

09/17/22 EJS