Joanne L. Osterman

Mrs. Osterman was born in Stouchsburg, Pa. on July 28, 1934 to Carl E. and Lillian Boyer Putt. She graduated from Robesonia High School in 1952 and went to serve in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War. While serving at Andrews Air Force base, as Airman Second Class and a Control Tower Specialist, she met Richard Joseph “Rick” Osterman, her husband of 58 years,. After their wedding, they settled in Baltimore where her husband was employed by Exxon Corporation. Following a series of promotions, they moved to New Castle, Del and Milford, Del before settling in Salisbury, Md in 1969. After Mrs. Osterman’s husband passed away, she moved to Charlestown Retirement Community in Catonsville, Md to be closer to her children.

Mrs. Osterman was a loving, friendly and optimistic person devoted to her family and friends. She loved to read, vacation with her family and help others. She was a volunteer for over 15 years at Peninsula General Hospital in Salisbury and often rang the bell for the Salvation Army. She looked forward to the family’s frequent gatherings and annual vacations at the North Carolina beaches. In 2015 she and many of her family vacationed in the Hawaiian Islands, visiting Oahu, Maui, Hawaii and Kauai. She also enjoyed her many friends at Charlestown and volunteering at the Library.

She is survived by her four children, Richard J. Osterman, Jr. and his wife, Elizabeth, of Ashton, Md, Carl G. Osterman and his wife, Sandra I. Liotta, of Fork, Md, Lisa K. Coulter and her husband, Fredrik, of DeLand, Fla., and Michael D. Osterman and his wife, Denise Chambers, of Rockville, Md.; nine grandchildren, Richard Joseph “Eric” Osterman III and his wife, Michelle, of Silver Spring, Md., Meredith Gilbert Osterman, Leah Liotta Osterman, Julia Isabel Osterman, Kathryn Victoria Coulter, Christina Marie Coulter, Madelyn Mae Osterman, Ellen Bennett Osterman and Erin O’Donnell Osterman; two great-grandchildren, Carys Elizabeth Osterman and Alexander “Alec” Knowles Osterman; brother-in-law’s, Otto Mertz, of White Hall, Pa and Charles “Larry” Osterman, of Bridgeville, Del; and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her sister, Kay Mertz.

A funeral service will be held on Friday, July 22 at 11am at Our Lady of the Angels Chapel at Charlestown Retirement Community, where friends may call one hour prior to the service. Following cremation, inurnment will be held at a later date in Heidelberg Cemetery, Robesonia, Pa.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in memory of Mrs. Osterman to the Christian Appalachian Project, PO Box 55911, Lexington, KY 40555, or AMVETS National Service Foundation, PO Box 96175, Washington, DC 20090 or www.amvetsnsf.org.

Arrangements by Sterling Ashton Schwab Witzke Funeral Home of Catonsville, Inc., www.sterlingashtonschwabwitzke.com.