Hubert A. Osburn

NASHUA, NH - Hubert A. "Ozzie" Osburn, 84, of The Hunt Community, 10 Allds St., #107, died Saturday, August 23, at Massachusetts General Hospital after a month-long illness. Born in York, Illinois, on March 17, 1924, he was the son of the late Manford and Laura Grace (Rowe) Osburn of Terre Haute, IN. Ozzie was raised on a farm near Fairbanks, IN, and attended Wiley High School in Terre Haute, IN. He attributed a great deal of the success in his life to a teacher, Wilbur Russell, who took him under his wing. Ozzie was fond of saying that Wilbur helped him become "the man he was today" by introducing him to many things that otherwise would not have been available. One of the greatest memories of his life were the times spent as a boy at Wilbur's campground at Wilderness Lake in Wisconsin. In 1942, Ozzie joined the U.S. Army, achieving the rank of 1st Leiutenant in the 1st Infantry Division, The Big Red One. He often told the story about how he was overlooked by the draft in a paperwork mix-up, and initiated his own induction into the Army. He was able to earn both his Bachelor and MBA degree from Indiana State University in five years because of the GI bill, and 60 years after graduating was still grateful for this wonderful opportunity afforded to him by the United States. In 1944, he married his first wife, Eunice M. (Johnson) Osburn of Terre Haute, IN, and lived in several mid-western cities. Together they have three children: Keith and his wife, Jackie, of Edmond, OK; Chris and his wife, Debbie, of Amherst, NH; and Katherine and her husband, Edward Mathena, of Indianapolis, IN. He often said that he was amazed that of his three children, nine grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren, "every one of them turned out great with no problems at all from any of them." Originally a teacher in Michigan and Wisconsin, Ozzie was recruited in 1951 by Houghton Mifflin Publishing Company, and was later transferred by the company to the Lexington, MA, area. He came to enjoy 35 years of a wonderful career with the company, achieving the title of Vice President of Inventory, and was successful in establishing an efficient and profitable inventory system for them. In 1964, he married his second wife, Josephine (Stepp) Osburn, born in Indiana Township, Allegheny County, PA, who pre-deceased him in 2001. They lived in Lexington, MA, and both loved the New England area. He and Jo built a cottage on Belleau Lake in Wakefield, NH, and spent a great deal of time there until they moved to Amherst, NH. In 2006, Ozzie moved to The Hunt Community in Nashua where he quickly fit right in to his new environment. He enjoyed volunteering at The Hunt, playing bingo with the ladies, and pool or poker with the gents. He made so many friends there and spoke fondly of them all. He believed he had chosen the best place to live out the rest of his life. He will be sorely missed by his family and friends. At the request of Mr. Osburn, there are no scheduled services. A private family memorial will be conducted at a later date. Donations may be made to the American Cancer Society, 2 Commerce Drive #110, Bedford, NH 03110.