Ronald Dean Osborne, Sr., age 87, of Marion, Ohio, passed away peacefully at his home of 63 years into his eternal home to join his wife, son, and grandson on April 26, 2017.
Ron was born November 17, 1929 in Marion, Ohio, to the late Everett and Leah (Verburg) Osborne. He moved to Lewis County, Kentucky, and spent most of his boyhood there, until he returned with his family and attended Edison Junior High and graduated in 1947 from Harding High School.
After at first being chased off her porch by her mother, he married Grace (Gushurst) Osborne on July 24, 1949, the love of his life, who preceded him in death February 3, 2009. Together, they raised three children, Peggy, Ronald, Jr., and Teresa.
In 1995, he moved his family from town to the rundown, abandoned farm in Pleasant Township that he, with his wife and children, built to what it is today. He was an avid farmer of pigs and cattle, for which he credited all his knowledge to his “Kentucky cousins” Merrill and Dean Osborne, and he was helper to any of his neighbors and friends, even the occasional stranger in need.
As a growing boy, he worked alongside his father building and repairing homes and churches and working on “fixer upper” tractors and equipment. He loved attending numerous church revivals when he could. If something big or small needed repaired, he could do it, and he passed this knowledge down to his son and grandson. He also loved going back to his Kentucky home, visiting with cousins Merrill and Mary Etta Osborne, where he would spend numerous hours in discussion about the Osborne genealogy and his visits with other family they would run across.
He is survived by two daughters, Peggy (Dave) Burns and Teresa Fawley, both of Marion; one daughter-in-law, Margo Osborne, of Marion; six granddaughters plus one extended granddaughter, Tracy Reynolds, Jessica Osborne, Jennifer (Curtis) Banker, Jodi Osborne, Jamie (Josh) Faulk, Joanna Osborne, and his other granddaughter Mary (Jamie) Kennedy; his granddaughter-in-law Cynthia Tyler; and the love of his heart, great-granddaughter Faith Reynolds. He is also survived by one sister, Bonita (Richard) Trimmer, numerous nephews and nieces, special cousins Dean and Karen Osborne, and his “best friend in the whole world,” as he called her, Joann Divish.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his brother Warren Osborne, his wife Grace, his son Rob, and his one and only grandson Christopher “Chris” Reynolds.
Calling hours will take place to honor Ron’s memory on Saturday, April 29, 2017 from 4 PM to 8 PM at the Boyd-Born Funeral Home. The family requests that guests wear casual dress.
Condolences may be expressed to the family online at www.boydbornfuneralhome.com.
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