Floyd Louis Osborne

Floyd Osborne passed into the arms of his Lord on Tuesday, September 22. He was at home, surrounded by his family with his favorite gospel songs playing quietly in his room. Floyd’s passing came just 31 hours after that of his wife of 69 years, Josie.

Floyd was born in Lone Wolf Oklahoma. He was the son of Mary Elsie Osborne and Floyd Ellsworth Osborne. He had 3 brothers and 3 sisters.

As many young men did, Floyd answered the call of the U.S. Army in 1943, in the height of the war in the Pacific. After basic training in Ft. Sill, Oklahoma and Camp Bowie, Texas, he was sent to the island of Oahu to train at Schofield Barracks for the invasion of the Japanese Homeland.

It was in Hawaii that Floyd met Josie. Her sister, Mildred Brostek, pastored a church in Honolulu called the Door of Faith, and the congregation would go downtown to where the servicemen were to minister and offer them a church family while they were so far from their homes. He enjoyed hearing the familiar songs and preaching that he had grown up with, and so attended the church every chance he could. He was immediately smitten with the youngest sister of Sister Brostek, who played the piano, Josie.

Floyd and Josie were married on April 14, 1946, immediately after he was honorably discharged from the Army. They lived in the Hawaiian islands for many years, working in several of the Door of Faith churches. They moved to Long Beach in 1950, where he went to work for Marine Hardware in San Pedro, selling boating equipment. Without any knowledge of boats, he soon became their top salesman. During this time, he also became the Associate Pastor at Guiding Light Tabernacle in Signal Hill in the early-1960s, with his friend and mentor, Hershall Phillips. After pastor Phillips died, he went to co-pastor with his brother, Elmo Osborne, at Bethel Tabernacle in North Long Beach. In 1971, he pioneered a new Assembly of God church in Cerritos, California in 1970, and named it Guiding Light.

Floyd pastored various churches over the years around California. He retired in the 1980’s , but continued to minister from time to time at other churches. He worked as a funeral director in Oceanside for several years and then moved to Fresno where he worked for Lisle Funeral Home, a job he loved and cherished. Even after retiring due to poor health, he always dreamed of being well enough to go back to his job at Lisle.

Floyd was preceded in death by his wife, Josie, His parents, Floyd and Mary Elsie, his sister Laverne, his brothers Norman, Elmo and Ermal, and his beloved daughter Cheryl. He is survived by his sisters, Nora Jean Scott of Senatobia, Mississippi and Elsie Fern Smith of Woodward, Oklahoma, as well as his 5 surviving children, Sandy Tipton of Brownwood, Texas, Nancy Osborne of Clovis, California, Randall Osborne of Oceanside, California, Cindy Domingos of Clovis, California and Pam Pritchett of Pleasant View, Tennessee. He also leaves behind 17 grandchildren who loved and adored him, and 17 great-grandchildren who will grow up hearing the hysterical stories of their parents lives while growing up with Grandma and Grandpa! Also surviving him are many beloved nieces and nephews, who’s childhoods were all made special by their Uncle Floyd and Aunt Josie.

There will be private interment later in the Fall in Clovis, California. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Wounded Warriors Project. Floyd lost a significant amount of his hearing from firing Howitzers in the Army, and was very moved by the organization helping Veterans with disabilities.