Robert Alvin Osburn was born on August 23, 1925 to Sherman and Ruth Osburn in Craig, Missouri and passed away on September 21, 2013 at Point Lookout Nursing and Rehab in Hollister, Missouri at the age of 88 years.
He attended school in Craig graduating in 1943. He joined the U.S. Air Force during WWII and after his honorable discharge he started college in NW Missouri State Teachers College where he graduated in 1951 and started his teaching career. He then received his Masters Degree at Missouri University and University of Arkansas at Fayetteville. He was a counselor at Kanakuk in Branson for five summers. He coached at several schools in northern Missouri for seven years including one year as an administrator. School of the Ozarks came next in 1957 as coach in the high school and then in the college. Cross Country Track was his speciality. He was District 16 Coach of the Year nine times, and voted Coach of the Year by all Missouri colleges and universities two times. He coached 11 All Americans and 50 students to All District Honors. After forty one years of coaching and teaching, 34 years at College of the Ozarks he retired. His favorite hobbies were gardening, exercising and working as a volunteer.
Survivors are his wife, Patsy Ann Osburn of the home in Branson, two sons, James Robert Osburn and wife Janice of Republic, Missouri and Lance Osburn of the home. One brother, Bill Osburn of Bethesda, Maryland and two sisters, Marlene Hughes of Mt. Vernon, Illinois and Beverly Rizzo of Turney, Missouri. He is also survived by four grandchildren, six great grandchildren and 15 nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his daughter, Cynthia “Cyndy” Osburn.
A Celebration Of Life Service will be held for “Coach” at 2:00 PM on Saturday, October 5, 2013 at the First Presbyterian Church in Branson with Pastor Tom Willcox officiating.
Memorial contributions in his memory are suggested to the high school track program at College of the Ozarks, Point Lookout, Missouri.
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