In Loving Memoriam: “Bob’s House”

Before Kate Borden’s husband, Bob, died, he had one wish—to build an entire Habitat house, from the ground up.

And, that was the plan.

He and his son where going to build a Habitat house in Bob’s honor, after he got better. But sadly, he never did get better. Bob died in 1998 at the age of 77.

After Bob died, his loving family and friends pitched in to build “Bob’s house”—a Habitat house—in his honor.

Bob learned about Habitat for Humanity years ago, through his church in Canton, Ohio. After retiring from the plumbing trade in 1981, he devoted much of his time and energy to helping the local Habitat affiliate build house. In fact, Bob was one of the first Habitat volunteers in Canton.

Even when he and Kate were on vacation in Florida, Bob sought out the local Habitat affiliate and helped out with local plumbing or construction on their home-building projects. Whatever was needed, Bob was always there, eager to help a family in need of a decent home.

Kate, now 81, says that Bob “was caught up in Habitat for Humanity, because he believed it was really important for kids to have a home , a good place to grow up.” In every sense, Bob embraced Habitat throughout his life.

So, in honor of Bob, Kate and her five children, eight grandchildren and two great-grandchildren got out their hammers, saws and paintbrushes to build a Habitat house with and for a single mother named Valerie and her two children.

The Bordens and their friends generously donate the funds for “Bob’s house.” Their friends also volunteered to help build this house. One friend drove a backhoe all the way from West Virginia to dig the foundation. Another offered shingles for the roof. Others donated trees. One daughter-in-law helped Valeria plant a flower garden; another made scrapbooks of the house being built for Valerie and Kate. Kate cleaned up and made snacks and drinks for the crew.

Kate still keeps in touch with Valerie and her children. Kate says people are always telling her, “I drove by ‘Bob’s house’ the other day, and it looks so good.” That what folks in Canton, Ohio, call it—Bob’s house.

Bob’s house is a fitting name because Bob was an ordinary man who did extraordinatyr things through his life. In every sense, this Habitat house is truly a house where Bob’s heart and soul were throughout his life.

Thanks to the Bordens’ memorial gift to Habitat for Humanity, Bob’s life of service and devotion to those in need of a simple, decent home lives with Kate and their family and friends through the home that shelters Valerie and her family.