LEXINGTON SC - Services for H. LaBorde "Bordie" Mathias, 77, at St. Stephen's Lutheran church with burial in the church cemetery. Caughman-Harman Funeral Home, Lexington. Mr. Mathias, husband of the late Elizabeth Sligh Mathias, died May 8, 2001. Born in Lexington County, he was a son of the late Andrew Jackson Mathias Sr. and Miley Louise Taylor Mathias. Mr. Mathias was a member of the Greater Columbia Chamber of Commerce, Greater Columbia Marine Dealers Association and Centennial Civil War Rifle Association. He was a lifetime member of the Ex POW (World War II), Disabled American Veterans, VFW Post #8738, American Legion Auxiliary, St. Stephen's Lutheran Church where he served on the Congregational Council for two years. Mr. Mathias was founder and president of Pine Crest Marine since 1946. Mr. Mathias graduated from Lexington High School in 1941 and attended Wofford College for three months. After entering the Army Air Corps, April 8, 1943, he received his army technical training at Sioux Falls Radio School, Yuma Aerial Gunnery School and Sheppard Field, Texas as a radio operator and gunner. He was with the 15th AAF in Italy, Bomb Group 460, Squadron 760. On April 26, 1945, Mr. Mathias and crew, aboard a B24 Liberator, set off for their 19th combat mission to Klagenfurt, Austria. He served as the radio operator aboard this mission. His plane went down in the Austrian Alps, where he bailed out and was captured by the Germans. He remained in a POW camp for nine days before being liberated. He was awarded the following medals for his heroic efforts: American Theater Service Medal, European African Middle Eastern Service Medal with one silver star, one Overseas Service Bar, Good Conduct Air Medal, World War II Victory Medal and POW Medal. Surviving are his sons, George A. Mathias of Lexington and Thomas T. Mathias of Gilbert; daughter, Tracey M. Owen of Lexington; grandchildren, Shauna R. Porter, Mitchum R. Porter, Whitney R. Mathias, Kayce E. Mathias, Rachel A. Mathias, Andrew T. Mathias, Lauren A. Owen, Clark L. Mathias, Micah M. Owen and Turner E. Owen; sisters, Alice Mae (Sal) Elkins, Helen Virginia Vickers, Mary Jane Elizabeth (Libby) Harmon and Miley Louise (Bootsie) Amick, all of Lexington. Mr. Mathias was preceded in death by his daughter, Margaret Lynn Porter; son, H.L. (Bubba) Mathias Jr. and brother, A.J. Mathias Jr. The State (Columbia, SC), May 10, 2001.
LEXINGTON SC - Services for H. LaBorde "Bordie" Mathias, 77, at St. Stephen's Lutheran church with burial in the church cemetery. Caughman-Harman Funeral Home, Lexington. Mr. Mathias, husband of the late Elizabeth Sligh Mathias, died May 8, 2001. Born in Lexington County, he was a son of the late Andrew Jackson Mathias Sr. and Miley Louise Taylor Mathias. Mr. Mathias was a member of the Greater Columbia Chamber of Commerce, Greater Columbia Marine Dealers Association and Centennial Civil War Rifle Association. He was a lifetime member of the Ex POW (World War II), Disabled American Veterans, VFW Post #8738, American Legion Auxiliary, St. Stephen's Lutheran Church where he served on the Congregational Council for two years. Mr. Mathias was founder and president of Pine Crest Marine since 1946. Mr. Mathias graduated from Lexington High School in 1941 and attended Wofford College for three months. After entering the Army Air Corps, April 8, 1943, he received his army technical training at Sioux Falls Radio School, Yuma Aerial Gunnery School and Sheppard Field, Texas as a radio operator and gunner. He was with the 15th AAF in Italy, Bomb Group 460, Squadron 760. On April 26, 1945, Mr. Mathias and crew, aboard a B24 Liberator, set off for their 19th combat mission to Klagenfurt, Austria. He served as the radio operator aboard this mission. His plane went down in the Austrian Alps, where he bailed out and was captured by the Germans. He remained in a POW camp for nine days before being liberated. He was awarded the following medals for his heroic efforts: American Theater Service Medal, European African Middle Eastern Service Medal with one silver star, one Overseas Service Bar, Good Conduct Air Medal, World War II Victory Medal and POW Medal. Surviving are his sons, George A. Mathias of Lexington and Thomas T. Mathias of Gilbert; daughter, Tracey M. Owen of Lexington; grandchildren, Shauna R. Porter, Mitchum R. Porter, Whitney R. Mathias, Kayce E. Mathias, Rachel A. Mathias, Andrew T. Mathias, Lauren A. Owen, Clark L. Mathias, Micah M. Owen and Turner E. Owen; sisters, Alice Mae (Sal) Elkins, Helen Virginia Vickers, Mary Jane Elizabeth (Libby) Harmon and Miley Louise (Bootsie) Amick, all of Lexington. Mr. Mathias was preceded in death by his daughter, Margaret Lynn Porter; son, H.L. (Bubba) Mathias Jr. and brother, A.J. Mathias Jr. The State (Columbia, SC), May 10, 2001.
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