Leo Chester Osborn

Leo Chester Osborn, 89, of Conneaut Lake, passed away Friday, January 27, 2017 at his residence surrounded by his loving family.

He was born March 7, 1927 in Greenville, the son of the late Otto Mart and Jennie Mildred (Horne) Osborn.  Leo married Pauline Marie Nottingham September 15, 1946 and she preceded him in death December 26, 2009.  They were happily married for 63 years.

When Japan attacked Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, Leo was a 13-year old high school freshman.  In January of 1944, he was 16 years old and a senior at East Fallowfield High School.  On March 7, 1944, his 17th birthday, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy.  His parents had to sign his enlistment papers and he left a week later for 6 weeks of boot camp.  He was then assigned to duty on the USS Wilkes-Barre.  At his high school graduation ceremony, in May, three empty seats of enlisted boys held small American flags and their diplomas were presented to their parents.  His ship, the USS Wilkes-Barre, was in Admiral William F. Halsey’s Third Fleet in Tokyo Bay when Douglas MacArthur signed the peace treaty aboard the USS Missouri.

Leo was a hard worker and was always a good provider for his family.  He could always be counted on to help anyone in need.  He was a very kind and generous individual.  Leo enjoyed working in his garden and all of his family and neighbors benefited from his garden.  He always had to keep busy and as a result sometimes mowed his lawn even if it didn’t need it.  He owned and operated a grocery store in Atlantic, worked building houses in Sharon and was a foreman at the Greenville Car Company, where he retired from at age 62.

Leo was an avid fisherman and hunter.  He made fishing trips to Canada for 64 consecutive years with family and friends.  His hunting trips included trips to Colorado, Alaska, Montana, British Columbia and he also accompanied his 96 year old father (Otto) to New Foundland on Otto’s last hunting trip.  He also enjoyed watching his grandchildren and great-grandchildren with all of their sports activities.  He enjoyed watching all sports on television, especially the Cleveland Indians.

He was affectionately known to his grandchildren and great-grandchildren as “Papa Leo.”

Survivors include a daughter, Elaine Harrison and her husband David; two sons, Don Osborn and his wife Rhonda and Rich Osborn and his wife Carol, all of Conneaut Lake; six grandchildren, Todd Harrison (Tina) of New Philadelphia, OH, Krista Longoria (Marco) of Conneaut Lake, Whitney Howard (Anthony) of Linesville, Casey Osborn (Shane) of Dubois, Matt Mullen (Chelle) of Louisville, KY, and Leanne Perry (Ryan) of Asheville, NC; eight great-grandchildren, Morgan, Kara, McKenna, Matthew, Sarah, Roman, Maya, and Marshall; a sister, Linda Myers and a brother, Larry Osborn, both of Conneaut Lake; and many nieces and nephews.

In addition to his wife and parents, he was preceded in death by a brother, Eugene Osborn; a sister, Edna Virginia Nottingham; a sister-in-law, Helen Osborn; and two brothers-in-law, Glenn Nottingham and Brian Myers.

Calling hours will be Monday from 4 to 8 p.m. at WAID-COLEMAN FUNERAL HOME, 12422 CONNEAUT LAKE RD., CONNEAUT LAKE.

The funeral and committal service will be Tuesday at 11:00 a.m. at the funeral home with the Rev. Russell Hines officiating.

Private family burial will be in Rocky Glen Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Hospice of Crawford County, 464 Pine St., Meadville, PA 16335.

Memories and condolences may be shared at www.waidcolemanfh.com.