DATE: Friday, November 14, 1997             TAG: 9711140529

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B9   EDITION: FINAL 

DATELINE: JACKSONVILLE, FLA.                LENGTH:   43 lines

DONALD C. OSBORN

Donald Charles Osborn, loving and loyal husband, son, brother, father, grandfather and friend, died Monday, Nov. 10, 1997, doing what he loved, working and being with people.

He was a gregarious, generous, non-stop worker with a sense of humor to match. He was a great cook, which he continually proved through his life including the last three months when he cooked every Wednesday for Crown Point Baptist Church, Jacksonville. His greatest talent, however, was being a devoted grandfather or, as his grandchildren called him, ``Papa.'' His dedication to young people began early when he achieved the status of an Eagle Scout in the Boys Scouts of America. He also received the God and Country Award and served as a Boy Scout Master. He graduated in 1965 from Port Richmond High School, Staten Island, N.Y., where he was a member of the Beau Brummel Society. He then went to Staten Island Community College for three years. After that he joined the U.S. Army in 1968 and was a veteran of the Vietnam War. He was finally honorable discharged from the U.S. Army in 1992 as a major.

In addition, he was a former resident of Virginia Beach and was a Virginia State Trooper, where he rose to the rank of sergeant. He then was a business partner in a private investigation firm, E.S.M. Investigative Service Inc. and was a member of the Ruritans, Moose Lodge No. 42 and AARP. Lastly, he was an active and devoted member of Jacksonville's Crown Point Baptist Church.

He is survived by his wife of 19 years, Alice Smith Osborn; his daughters, Amy White, Stacy White, Nancy Robles and Kimberly Osborn; his grandchildren, Joshua Aaron, Shawna Nicole, Cody Michael, Gabrielle Nicole and twins who are arriving any day now; his parents, Marion Ruth Kotyza Osborn and Robert Emmit Osborn Sr.; his brother, Robert Emmit Osborn Jr.; and his sister, Linda Goetz.

A viewing will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. today at Hardage-Giddens Funeral Home, Jacksonville. A funeral will be conducted at 3 p.m. Saturday in Crown Point Baptist Church, Mandarin, by the Rev. Steve Thompson. Interment will be in Florida National Cemetery, Bushnell, Fla., with full military honors. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials may be made in his honor to Crown Point Baptist Church, Joyce Fliess Multi-Purpose Building Fund, 10153 Old St. Augustine Road, Jacksonville, Fla., 32257. Donald will be sadly missed by each and every life that he touched. KEYWORDS: DEATH OBITUARY

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