Mr. Jessie James Osborn

Jessie James Osborn, 79, of Poneto passed away at 2:00 p.m. Friday, November 09, 2012 at his residence surrounded by his family. Jessie was born on June 19, 1933 in Wells County, Indiana to Charles Curtis & Beulah Belle (Folk) Osborn. He graduated from P.A. Allen High School in Bluffton with the class of 1953. He served our country in the United States Army from 1953 to 1955 and was honorably discharged as a CP-1. In the service, he worked in the mail room in the summertime and in the furnace room to keep the barracks warm in the winter. On November 25, 1955 at the Liberty Center Methodist Church he married Sharon M. (Speece) Osborn. They have shared almost 57 years of marriage together. Jessie retired from General Motors as a factory press operator after 37 years of working from April 17, 1957 to October 1, 1994 . In 1957, he became a member of the Poneto United Methodist Church where he served as a Trustee and bowled on the church league. As a trustee, he served on the committee for the installation for the elevator in the church. He also bowled for George Atkinson’s Co-op Gas & Oil Team for 30 years. Jessie was one of the first members to help start the Poneto Fire Department in 1957 and served on the Poneto Town Board. He is survived by his wife Sharon of Poneto along with children; Kimberly (husband Darrel) Ehlerding of Decatur, Kelli (husband Steve) Rush of Poneto, and Kathryn Osborn of Bluffton, along with 7 grandchildren; Jamie (husband Randy Jacob) Miller of Decatur, Jeremy Ehlerding of Indianapolis, Justin (wife Kristy) Ehlerding of Convoy, Ohio, Jared Ehlerding of Decatur, Adam Rush of Poneto, Aaron (wife Katie) Rush of Craigville and Lucinda Rush of Poneto, along with 5 great-grandchildren; Jacob, Jonathon and Jordan Miller all of Decatur, Emma & Jase Ehlerding both of Convoy, Ohio. Other survivors include a sister Betty Mayer of Swiss Village Retirement Center in Berne, a twin sister Bessie Oliver of Bluffton, a sister-in-law Naomi Osborn of Fort Wayne and a brother-in-law Robert (wife Martha) Speece Davis of Wauseon, Ohio. He is also survived by several nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents, 8 brothers; William Marion Osborn, Harold Dwight Osborn, Dale Alford Osborn, Jay Osborn, Clifford Osborn, Max Osborn, Charles Curtis Osborn, Jr., Paul Osborn, 3 sisters; Ida (Osborn) Hankins, Mary A.(Osborn) Perry and Martha B. (Osborn) Zimmerman, and a granddaughter Jana Ehlerding. Friends are invited to visit with the Osborn family from 2:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday at the Thoma/Rich, Chaney & Lemler Funeral Home in Bluffton. Funeral Services will take place at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, November 14, 2012, at the funeral home with calling for one hour prior to the service. Pastor Roy Nevil will officiate. Burial will follow at Elm Grove Cemetery in Bluffton. Military Graveside Honors will be performed by the American Legion Post #111 of Bluffton and the United States Army Honor Guard. Memorials may be made in Jessie’s memory to Family Life Care of Berne or to the Poneto United Methodist Church. Friends can send online condolences to the family at www.thomarich.com.

Mr. Jessie James Osborn

June 19, 1933 - November 9, 2012