Eugene "Ozzy" Frank Osborne
1921-2006
A memorial service is 1:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Carson Valley United Methodist Church for Eugene "Ozzy" Frank Osborne, 84, a Minden resident, who died April 26, 2006, at Carson Tahoe Regional Medical Center in Carson City. Pastor Pete Nelson will be officiating at the service.
Mr. Osborne was born Dec. 30, 1921, to William F. and Mellissa (Miller) Osborne. He grew up and attended school in San Jose, Calif., where he graduated from San Jose Tech High School, having learned the carpentry and construction skills which he employed for the rest of his life. He joined the U. S. Navy in 1942, and was stationed at Moffit Field where he supported the war effort for two years. Following his naval service, he was invited to stay on with NASA and he became instrumental in the construction of experimental aircraft and space capsules. He was known as "Ozzy" to those he worked with during his 20 years with NASA, and the annual reunion with those co-workers was a highlight of each year. He retired from NASA in 1962 and moved to Lake Tahoe following a brief period as a general contractor in Saratoga, Calif. He obtained his Nevada contractors license and supervised many large construction projects, including Caesar's Tahoe, the rebuilding of Harvey's Wagon Wheel, and many others. He met and married Winx Oldham in 1966 and was granted 40 productive and happy years with his loving partner and help-mate.
Mr. Osborne served as a Douglas County commissioner from 1977 to 1980. He was a member of the Masonic Lodge No. 33 where he served as Master in 1989 and again in 1997. He was a charter member of the "Old Timer's Breakfast Club" which met weekly at Sharkey's. Many events of local and national concern were debated, discussed, and decided at those meetings of the good old boys, usually with uncommon wisdom and good sense. He and his wife built and operated Holbrook Station, and later Club Horizon at Topaz Lake. He was an avid golfer, biker, and loved to travel with Winx.
Mr. Osborne was preceded in death by numerous brothers and sisters and one great grandson, Austin Kirby of Minden.
He is survived by his wife, Winx, of Minden; sons Jim Osborne of California, Rick Oldham of Homer, Alaska; daughter Patty Clark of Minden; sister Onita Fisher of Merced, Calif., 10 grandchildren; 22 great grandchildren and one great-great grandchild.
Arrangements are in the care of FitzHenry's Carson Valley Funeral Home. The family would like to suggest for those wishing to make a memorial contribution in Eugene Osborne's memory can direct them to "Austin's House," P.O. Box 1923, Minden, NV, 89423.
