Obituary
Dr. Robert L. Osborne
Bob was born April 27, 1934, in Los Angeles, California and grew up a few miles away in Glendale. He was the only son of Robert and Lelia Osborne. He started a distinguished educational path with Junior College in San Fernando Valley before transferring to U.C. Berkeley and graduating in 1956 with a degree in Mechanical Engineering.
Bob loved cars and owned a 1950 Mercury for over 60 years which he sadly sold last year. In January, 1956, Ginny was washing her Pontiac when Bob came looking for someone to go sailing with him. She says her car served as a “great pickup opportunity.” Bob proposed in June in Yosemite Park and they were married in July.
They moved to the Philadelphia suburbs where Bob worked as an engineer for Westinghouse and completed his M.S. degree from the University of Pennsylvania. They started square dancing and began a life- long love of travel which has taken them all over the world.
In 1963 they returned to Berkeley where Bob earned his Ph.D. degree in Engineering while working at Lawrence Radiation Labs. Back in Philadelphia Bob managed the Controls Development group for Westinghouse. He went to China with Westinghouse on the first official U.S. trade delegation. In October of 1969 they were invited to the White House for a tour and private meeting with President Nixon in the Oval Office.
Bob was instrumental in founding the Ethel Mason Day Care Center in South Media, providing day care for working single mothers. He served for seven years on the Wallingford-Swarthmore School Board. He also served as Chairman of the Philadelphia section of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers. To relax he spent many weekends rehabbing properties in Ocean City, N. J.
In 1983 they were transferred to Florida where Bob managed the Diagnostics Development group at Westinghouse. He retired in 1992 with 13 patents after which he was an adjunct professor at UCF teaching courses on Artificial Intelligence.
Bob joined Rotary in 1999 and served as president of the Rotary Club of Orlando East in 2003-2004. He was a deacon and elder in the Tuscawilla Presbyterian Church. Bob loved opera and supported UCF Opera and other local opera programs. Bob and Ginny joined Whirl and Twirl Square Dance Club in 2000 which they loved.
Bob loved his family, who were the most important people in his life. His wife, Virginia (Ginny), his sons Robert and Douglas, their wives Vera and Lori, his grandchildren Sofia, Jasmina, Ethan, Emily and godson Gary Meyer will cherish his kindness, his sense of humor, and his love in their hearts.
Memorial contributions to support scholarships for local high school students may be sent to Rotary OCE, P.O. Box 1566, Winter Park, FL 32790. Checks should be made out to Rotary Club of Orange County East-Winter Park Foundation.
Celebration of Life at Tuskawilla Presbyterian Church, 3600 Aloma Avenue, Oviedo on Monday Nov. 6 at 2:00 p.m.
So sorry to hear of Bob's illness and passing. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. Bob will be missed by many, espcially those from square dancing.
Sincerely,
Nancylayne