Jill King Borneman Bigler, beloved wife, mother, sister, daughter, aunt, and grandmother, passed from our lives peacefully after a stroke, on August 27, 2016.
She was a resident of Peachtree City, Ga. formerly of Macon, Ga., and St. Petersburg, Fla. In addition, she spent her years in Arkansas Columbus, Ohio and New Jersey.
Jill was born on July 5, 1938 to Herman and Helen King Borneman. She grew up in both Cincinnati & Piqua, Ohio and was a graduate of Hughes High School class of 1956. Jill went on to graduate from the Ohio State University in 1960 with a degree in Music Education.
She married her husband Richard on June 11, 1960. Throughout her life, Jill was a prolific pianist, violinist and soloist. She shared her love of music with both the children she taught, and with her family. She was an intelligent and creative soul, and channeled that energy into her work with the Girl Scout Council, Wesleyan College, and Mercer University in Macon, and Eckerd College in St. Petersburg, Fla. She developed and oversaw Elderhostel programs stretching from Jekyll Island, Ga. to Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Jill’s other great passion was the Les Cheneaux Islands in Michigan. From the time she was a baby, she spent all of her summers on the waters, and in her cottages on Urie Bay and in Cedarville. She was an avid boater, a wonderful cook, and a devoted steward of her lifelong home.
Jill’s greatest love was her family. Along with Richard, she made a loving home for her three daughters, and all of their Scottish Terriers. She had a unique and wonderful sense of humor, and a loyalty to all of us, beyond measure. She was an avid Ohio State Buckeyes fan, and never missed a chance to see the OSU marching band perform Script Ohio.
Jill is preceded in her death by her parents, Herman and Helen Borneman of Cincinnati, Ohio.
She is survived by her husband of 56 years, Richard Bigler her daughters, Joanna Bigler Jones (Chaska, Minn.), Wendy Bigler Lauber (Dunwoody, Ga.), and Melissa Bigler Larson (Prescott, Ariz). She is also survived by her younger sister Judi Minges (White Bear Lake, Minn.), niece Holly Wintrip (St. Petersburg, Fla.) and her cousin Patricia McHenry (Prescott, Ariz.).
Jill will be dearly missed by her great niece Mackenzie, her sons inlaw Adam and John, and her four grandchildren: Meagan, Avery, David and Samuel.
A memorial service will be held at the Cathedral of Christ the King, Sharpsburg Ga., on Saturday, September 3rd, 2016 at 4 p.m., located at 4881 GA34,
Sharpsburg, Ga. 30277. We invite any and all who knew Jill to join us for a celebration of her life.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the ASPCA or Alzheimer’s Association.
