Nurse was active in animal welfare
5/25/2006Patricia Borton, 80, whose long career included duty as a hospital charge nurse, trauma unit nurse, and surgical nurse, as well as 20 years at the Lutheran Home at Toledo, died of cancer Monday at the Lutheran Home, where she'd been since January.
Mrs. Borton, of East Toledo, retired about 10 years ago as a registered nurse at the Lutheran Home. She wore the traditional starched cap and full uniform, even as the trend in nursing became casual and colorful.
"She felt the uniform was the status symbol of the trade," her son, Ricky, said. "She used to poke fun at the girls in their smocks."
She followed an old-time nursing practice of singing to patients as she gave them medication. She believed that making people happy was key to their becoming well.
"I know in her heart she felt she was doing good for mankind," her son said. "She was absolutely happy and joyous. She was happy to be alive and do her part in the world. She very much disliked people who weren't motivated. Her heart wasn't into monetary things."
Before the Lutheran Home, she worked at Toledo-area hospitals, including Toledo Hospital and what are now St. Charles Mercy Hospital and St. Vincent Mercy Medical Center. She worked at the highest level of intensive care and trauma units, including stints as a supervisor.
Mrs. Borton was a graduate of the Toledo Hospital School of Nursing, attended the University of Cincinnati, and received a bachelor of science degree in nursing in 1951 from the University of Toledo. Her father, Dr. George A. Gorsuch, was a physician, as is her brother, Dr. George E. Gorsuch, a retired rear admiral.
She grew up in East Toledo and graduated from Waite High School. She played piano and sang from childhood. She spoke Spanish and was an International Institute of Toledo volunteer for many years.
She supported animal welfare groups, and she did her part.
"She would take any old beat-up cat and nurse him back to health," her son said.
She was formerly married to Richard Borton and William Bartha.
Surviving are her son, George "Ricky" Borton; brother, Dr. George E. Gorsuch; and two grandsons.
Services will begin at 2 p.m. today in Memorial United Church of Christ, where the body will be after 1 p.m. Arrangements are by the Eggleston Meinert Pavley Funeral Home.
The family suggests tributes to Memorial United Church of Christ, of which she was a member.