Richard A Osborne

Richard attended local Vancouver schools, Arnada School, Shumway Junior High, and Vancouver High School. During his early school years he participated in sports and was an avid Boy Scout. He then went on to complete his Bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of Washington in 1941. Richard worked in the Foreign Service of the U.S. State Department from 1942-43 as the Vice Consul in Barranquilla, Columbia. Richard served in the US Navy during World War II and was discharged in1946. While in the Navy he attended the Language Institute in Monterey to study Russian.

Following his Navy service, he did graduate studies in economics at the University of Oregon from 1948-49, and also at the University of California, Berkeley from 1948 to 1955. Upon completion of graduate studies he worked in the finance area for Burlington Northern Railway from 1956 until his retirement in 1979.

Richard had many passions in life and among them were his love of foreign language and travel. He spoke fluent Spanish, French, and Russian and traveled through many foreign countries during his lifetime. He was a lifelong learner – he began studying the Chinese language as an adult and loved attending his language club meetings to practice his skills. In addition he had a passion for the outdoors and was avid skier, mountain climber, backpacker, kayaker and windsurfer.

Richard was a long time member of the First United Methodist Church in Vancouver where he especially enjoyed the choir and using his musical abilities.

He was preceded in death by his parents Laura and Malcolm Osborne, his brothers Robert, James, and William Osborne. He is survived by his niece Diane Shiffer of Lake Oswego, OR and her husband Alan and son Rob, and nephew Michael Osborne of Eureka, CA and his wife Janese and daughters Jessica and Mauri. In addition he is survived by his cousins Don Davis and Bruce Steffan and his lifelong friend Richard Bowne.

A memorial service for Richard will be held Friday, March 30 at 1pm at the First United Methodist Church in Vancouver.