Bobby Eugene Osborne

Bobby Eugene Osborne passed away peacefully at his home, surrounded by close friends that he called family, on the evening of Friday, November 15, 2024, in Waxahachie, Texas. 

Bob was born on February 25, 1924, in Elmo, Texas to Michie and Bessie Mae (Hamilton) Osborne. The family moved to Dallas and later to Waco in 1934 where his father took a job building the VA Hospital. Bob attended Waco High School until being drafted shortly after his birthday in 1943. He joined the war effort before completing his senior year. He proudly chose the Navy, taking the oath of office on March 12, 1943. 

Bob served his country aboard the USS Chester (CA-27), a heavy cruiser of the Fifth Battle Cruiser Division, as a hot shell man for one of the five-inch guns. He fought in the battles of Tarawa, Saipan, and Iwo Jima, among others. Bob spent a total of 28 months in active Sea Duty. After the war, Bob signed on for extra duty to sail the USS Chester from California to her reserve position in Philadelphia, navigating the Panama Canal in the process. 

Three months after returning home from the military, Bob gave Ida Loudale Vinson a ride on his motorcycle outside of a local bowling alley. The two were married a few months later on December 20, 1947. They shared 62 years of marriage before Dale's passing in 2009. Their beautiful union created two children: David Lance Osborne and Darlene Dale Osborne (Schubach). 

He had a long career with Otis Elevator working as a mechanic in Waco, San Antonio, and Lubbock before retiring in 1983. While in San Antonio, he helped build the Hemisphere Tower where he was the main elevator mechanic. He lived in Alaska for a couple of years where he worked on the pipeline. He and Dale moved to Waxahachie in 1984 where he opened Bob's Machine Shop & Welding. 

Bob had no shortage of adventures in his 100 years of life. He pulled his travel trailer across the frozen highways of Alaska in temperatures of negative 78°. He raced and did acrobatic tricks on his motorcycle in his younger days, drove dirt bikes in the mountains of Colorado, and continued to ride up through his late 90's. He even served as a search and rescue diver in waters around San Antonio. 

Adventurous a spirit as he may have been, he was a loyal and genuine man. That was evidenced through his 62-year marriage with Dale and his commitment to his shipmates through USS Chester reunions. You could always find him at the same local cafes or biker hangouts around town - where everyone knew his name. 

Bob was preceded in death by his parents, wife Loudale, son Lance, daughter Darlene, brothers Bill, Don and Tex, and sisters Betty Sue and Rose (Infant). 

He is survived by his partner in crime and loyal friend, Dan Cepak; “granddaughter” and caregiver, Jenny Fuller; and faithful friends, Jason Roy and Chase Colwell. Also, by his grandson Kelly (Tammy) Schubach; great-granddaughter, Amanda (Shawn) Schubach; great-grandsons - Cody (Sam) Schubach; Corey Schubach, all of San Antonio; and his two great-great-grandsons; Finn Schubach and Nick Schubach. 

He is also survived by many, too numerous to list, close friends and family. 

A visitation service to celebrate his life is scheduled for Tuesday, November 26, 2024, from 5-8 pm at Wayne Boze Funeral Home in Waxahachie, Texas. A funeral service is scheduled for Saturday, December 7, 2024, at 10 am at Wayne Boze Funeral Home in Waxahachie, Texas followed by a processional and graveside service at 1 pm at Waco Memorial Park in Waco, Texas. 

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the National Museum of the Pacific War as a contribution towards Bob’s memorial plaque. Please notate the donation “In Honor of Bobby Osborne” by following this link: 

https://nationalmuseumofthepacificwar.donation.veevartapp.com/donation/view/home/general-support

An online guest registry is available at waynebozefuneralhome.com