Walter John Borla, age 66, passed away on July 28, 2024.
John Borla was born September 30, 1957 in Price, Utah to Walter L. and Josephine Borla.
He was married Millie Poglajen, later divorced, and was a father to two sons, Zachary and Jake.
John grew up in Helper, Utah and was active in the Carbon County sports leagues in basketball, football, and baseball. As a ballplayer, John was a highly skilled competitor. At 12-years-old he played in the Western Boys Baseball Association (WBBA) Championship in Salt Lake City and later competed in State Baseball Championships at Carbon High School in his teenage years. John played college football and baseball at Snow College and University of Southern Utah and was recognized as an All-Conference player in both sports. To this day, he still maintains the single season interception record for a cornerback as of 2024 (a record held over 40 years).
John left Southern Utah to pursue a Bachelor’s Degree in Mining Engineering, and later on, completed a Master’s in Business Administration from the University of Utah. John began his mining career in Carbon County and held various positions at the coal mines. His professional journey took him and his family out-of-state as close as Wyoming to as far away as Australia. Together, they enjoyed their adventures that followed his long, successful career. John officially retired as a Senior Vice President for Alpha Resources. John was retired in Abington, Virginia before a family medical emergency brought him back to Utah to assist his son, Zachary in Sandy, Utah in 2013.
Being so close to his grandchildren gave John profound joy as he taught Autumn and Vincent how to ski and play softball and baseball. Vincent became his favorite ski buddy and enjoyed his grandson achieving a brown belt in Kempo karate. He also coached several years of accelerated softball and won multiple league and All-Star championships with his granddaughter, Autumn on the pitching mound. At home, John loved watching Westerns on television. He loved (re)watching Gunsmoke, the Rifleman, Laramie, and Bonanza. He also had nearly every episode of ‘Leave It to Beaver’ and ‘Married with Children’ mesmerized line by line, never stopping from cracking a smile at every episode as if watching for the first time. Cheering on the Denver Broncos and Utah Utes in football was among his favorite weekend highlights. He was a happy and healthy man at the time of his passing and was deeply loved by his children, grandchildren, and those closest to him.
John is survived by his brother, Jimmy; two sisters, Marilyn and Carolyn; sons, Zachary and Jake; and grandchildren, Autumn and Vincent and their families.
Celebration of Life, Saturday, August 10, 2024, 10:00 a.m., Mitchell Funeral Home (233 East Main Street) in Price. The family will receive friends beginning at 9:00 a.m. Burial will follow in the Mt. View Cemetery in Helper. Arrangements entrusted to Mitchell Funeral Home of Price and Huntington where friends are always welcome daily and may share memories of John online at www.mitchellfuneralhome.net