PARKERSBURG-Delegate Larry Border, R-Wood, passed away Wednesday night at Camden Clark Medical Center, St. Joseph's Campus, according to a family friend at the Border home who had received the information from the delegate's wife and daughter.
Border, who turned 60 on Friday, had been in critical condition at the hospital Wednesday. The Parkersburg hospital did not release any official word on Border.
Border suffered a hemorrhagic stroke, his daughter Heather Mullens said.
Border, a pharmacist and a Republican, had been elected to the 9th District since 1990. He is the minority whip and is on the Agriculture, Finance, House Rules and Health and Human Resources committees, serving as minority chairman of Health and Human Resources.
Border was in critical condition throughout most of the day Wednesday.
Delegate Bill Anderson, R-Wood, served with Border for many years in the Legislature and the two have been good friends for years.
''I was privileged to know him,'' Anderson said. ''I was very proud he considered me a friend and I was very proud to consider him a friend.''
Anderson was invited to the Borders' home for a cookout Tuesday. He said everyone had an enjoyable evening as Border was surrounded by family and friends.
''First and foremost, he was proud of his family,'' Anderson said. ''He was proud of his parents, his wife, Anna, his children and his grandchildren.''
Border was born in Parkersburg, the son of Willis and Helen Border. He graduated from the West Virginia University School of Pharmacy and has worked as a pharmacist locally for many years.
He is survived by his wife, Anna, their three children and seven grandchildren as well as his parents.
Anderson was called in the middle of the night by Border's family to tell him they were at the hospital.
Anderson went to the hospital Wednesday and spent time with Border's family. House Minority Leader Tim Armstead, R-Kanawha, came up from Charleston to spend time with Border's family, Anderson added. Other public officials came to the hospital Wednesday to spend time with the family.
Mullens said they had received a lot of prayers from many people throughout the area.
''We are all thankful for all the prayers and other help offered to us,'' she said. ''We wanted to thank everyone for their support.''
Border was an organ donor and his daughter said his organs will be used to help others.
''How appropriate it is in this tragic time that Larry was still thinking of others,'' Anderson said. ''Even at the time of his departure, he was able to perform one more act of service and someone's life will be changed because of it.''
Plans are in the works to establish a pharmacy school scholarship fund in Border's name, his daughter said.
Border was one of two pharmacists in the Legislature, and Anderson said he had relied on Border's professional knowledge on several health-related issues. He said Border knew how to ask the right professional questions.
''The state has lost a valuable asset,'' Anderson said. ''He was proud of his service to the state.
''He was proud of the progress the state has made.''
"In the untimely passing of Delegate Larry Border, the people of West Virginia have lost a gentleman, a devoted public servant and a statesman. I have lost a dear friend," said West Virginia Republican Party chairman Mike Stuart.
Border was re-elected to the House last November and has served more than 20 years as a legislator. He said he wanted to continue to make the state a better place for his children and grandchildren.
At the time of his re-election, Anderson said the state of the economy is a major issue and that his focus was "jobs, jobs and jobs."
''We have to work to provide opportunities for the next generation,'' he had said. ''Without jobs, there are no opportunities.''
The 9th District covers part of Wood County and all of Wirt County.
Wirt County Commissioner Robert Lowe said Border spent a lot of time in Wirt County at Camp Barbe, going to ball games. Border and his wife, Anna, were guests at the recent centennial celebration the county held for its courthouse, he said.
''I think they both really enjoyed that day,'' Lowe said. ''Wirt County has lost a representative and we all have lost a good friend.''
Acting Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin was notified of Border's hospitalization Wednesday afternoon, said Jacqueline Proctor, the governor's spokesman.
Tomblin described Border as ''the ultimate statesman and gentleman." Proctor said the governor and first lady's thoughts and prayers were with Border's wife and their family.
Former Wood County commissioner and former state delegate Rick Modesitt spoke of knowing Border in their years of public service.
''I had the honor to serve with Larry Border in the West Virginia House of Delegates and on the Wood County Planning Commission and I am saddened to hear of his sudden passing,'' Modesitt said. ''While he was a soft spoken man, he was always willing to help and offer advice.
''He was a very honest and fair man and methodical in his decision making.''
Modesitt spoke of Border's kindness toward everyone.
''As a freshman delegate, he would quietly offer advice and guidance to me,'' Modesitt said. ''In the Legislature, when Larry spoke, people listened.
''The community has lost a great public servant and his family has lost a devoted husband, father and grandfather.''
