Robert Eugene Osborne's Obituary
Robert Eugene Osborne, 84, of Longview, passed away peacefully on the morning of October 18, 2024. A celebration of life will be held at 2:00 pm on Saturday, November 9, 2024, at First Presbyterian Church in Longview with the Reverend Kendal Land officiating. Visitation will be held at Rader Funeral Home in Longview from 5:00 to 7:00 pm on Friday, November 8, 2024.
Robert (Bob) was born in Tallulah, Louisiana, on August 8, 1940, to John Scott and Frances June Osborne. As a child, he lived in Shreveport and on Lake St. John, Louisiana, and in Natchez, Mississippi, before moving to Ferriday, Louisiana. He graduated from Ferriday High School in 1958, where he played on the FHS state championship football team. In 1962, he graduated from Louisiana State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering. Upon graduation, he secured a position with Texas Eastman Company, now Eastman Chemical Company, in Longview. Shortly after moving to Longview, Bob met and married his beloved wife, Joan Willies, in 1963. They were married for 58 years until her passing in 2022.
During his years at Texas Eastman, Bob worked in various engineering and supervisory roles, including Supervising Engineer of Engineering Services, Supervising Engineer of Chemical Process Engineering, Senior Project Manager, and Project Manager of New Capital Projects. His favorite project as he neared retirement was as Project Manager of Corporate Engineering and Construction of the Oxo Chemicals Complex for Eastman Chemical Singapore. Even though Longview was home, he briefly lived in Kingsport, Tennessee; Yokohama, Japan; Singapore; and Houston, Texas, while working on engineering projects.
A resident of Longview for 62 years, Bob was a longtime member of First Presbyterian Church where he served on various planning committees and the church session. After retiring, he enjoyed volunteering with the AARP TaxAide program and as a math tutor with the East Texas Literacy Council. He found great joy in retirement when he answered the call to serve as Chairman of the Board of Camp Gilmont, placing him at the helm during the building of the B. W. Crain Jr. Conference Center at the camp. Bob especially loved spending time with his four grandchildren who all have fond memories of their “Poppums” teaching them how to fish in the neighborhood lake. He loved playing and watching golf, and even as his health declined, he continued to enjoy watching pro golf and LSU Tigers football.
Bob will be lovingly remembered by daughters Virginia Osborne McCleskey (Matt) and Sharon Osborne Lear (Jim), grandchildren Megan McCleskey Williams, Benjamin Lear, Catherine McCleskey Jahn, Jennifer Lear, great grandson Rowan Williams, and siblings John Osborne (Ann), Diane Costantini, and Gary Osborne (Cynthia). Bob was preceded in death by his wife Joan, his parents, and his brother-in-law Eddie Costantini.
Memorial gifts in Bob’s memory may be sent to Gilmont Camp and Conference Center, 6075 State Highway 155 N., Gilmer, TX 75644 or online at https://www.gilmont.org or to First Presbyterian Church Longview, 301 N. Center Street, Longview, TX 75601.
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