William R. Osborne, Sr., 89, of New Bedford died Saturday January 6, 2007 at the New Bedford Jewish Convalescent Home. He was the husband of the late Eleanor E. (Allen) Osborne.
Born in New Bedford, the son of the late LaForest E. and Ella A. (Spires) Osborne, he lived in New Bedford for most of his life.
He was a member of St. Paul's United Methodist Church, where he served as trustee, board member, and Sunday School teacher and superintendent.
Mr. Osborne was formerly employed by Morse Cutting Tools as a foreman for 40 years until his retirement. He later worked as a custodian and caretaker for St. Paul's United Methodist Church.
During World War II, he served in the U.S. Navy. He later served as a Master Sergeant in the Massachusetts National Guard. He was a Boy Scout and Cub Scout leader for over 50 years, and was an instructor to new cub leaders well into his 70's. Most of all, he was a wonderful father and a great example to those he met and served.
Survivors include three daughters, Linda Lawton and her husband Bruce of Toano, VA, Kathleen Gonsalves and her husband Jose of East Freetown, and Nancy Rivet and her husband Andrew of New Bedford; a brother, Arthur Osborne of Washington; his daughter-in-law, Joyce Osborne of Mattapoisett; nine grandchildren, David Lawton, Debbie Lawton Owens, Jared Rivet, Terry Osborne Shedrick, Patricia Osborne, Kurtis Gonsalves and his wife Julie, Jocelyn Suneson and her husband Peter, Mark and Kristen Gonsalves; four great-grandchildren, William and Eleanor Osborne, Sarah and Chase Owens; and several nieces and nephews.
He was the father of the late William R. Osborne, Jr., and grandfather of the late William Charles Osborne.
His Funeral Service will be held on Tuesday at 1 PM in St. Paul's United Methodist Church. Burial with military honors will follow in Cushing Cemetery, Mattapoisett. Visiting hours will be on Monday from 4-8 PM in the Saunders-Dwyer Home for Funerals, 495 Park St., New Bedford. In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to the Boy Scouts of America, Narragansett Council, 10 Risho Drive, East Providence, RI 02914. For directions and guestbook, please visit www.saundersdwyer.com.