A Poem To My Father-in-law, but really my second Dad, (and brand new Head Gardener in Heaven)———

I came into your family not knowing what I’d find, I was nervous and afraid, but you gently eased my mind.

You made me feel right at home, from the first day that we met.  You welcomed me with opened arms, and that I won’t forget.

You always encouraged me with kind words that you said, I knew I could depend on you on any given day.

You were a great father-in-law, you stood out above the rest.  I thank God for blessing me with you—-the very best!

   I love you Daddy Doc and will miss you
   very much.  Thanks for everything you
   did for me and my family.  I look forward
   to seeing you again in Heaven.

From your grateful daughter, Linda.

 

So many memories of Daddy Doc. The rose garden was a mixture of hard summer time work and learning from someone who is highly knowledgeable and who happens to love you very much. He taught us all about miniature roses. Different names, blends, colors, how to take care of them, he even showed us how to keep deer away from his roses. He would use bar soap for a week or so, then bring it down to the garden and leave it in a mesh near his plants. The deer would smell his "scent" and leave his roses alone. 
The rose shows were always a lot of fun and hard work. We would be up until 9pm the night before preparing and then get up around 5am, which is really early for any kid. We would pack his car, drive to the show, unpack, setup his portable table, and start with the process of making sure we entered multiple roses in several categories. By the time the show had ended, D Doc was beaming with pride, not just because he dominated the shows, but he would show us off to his fellow competitors. He even let us grow our own roses in his garden. We would submit them with our names on it, in care of him, and we won several times. It was a joy and honor to have such a patriarch of the Osburn family. I will miss him dearly.

I didn't personally know Mr. Osburn  but I do know his son Steve and from him I can see the superior character that Mr. Osburn has handed to his family.  I know that he will live in their hearts forever.

LaVern Rivera
Don McNeil

My Dad was an awesome man. Dee Doc loved live and was fascinated by nature.  I was always supported loved and cared for by him. He was a great husband,  father,  grandfather,  great grandfather and friend to many. He accomplished many great things. His memory will be with me and his friends and family. Grower or Roses and a teacher of men he has a great legacy with God and man. He will be missed and fondly remembered. 

Dr. William Sherman Osburn, Jr. “Daddy-Doc” 95, (1923 – 2019), died peacefully in his sleep on July 11. He loved roses, running and his family; he was a WW2 vet serving in the Pacific aboard LSM-226. He was an alpine ecologist; professor at Colorado University and Colorado State University. He served at the Atomic Energy Commission and Department of Energy for over 37 years. He especially loved his family, growing and showing roses, and running, where he was a nationally ranked senior Olympian.  He is proceeded in death by this wife, Edith and a grandson, Daniel. He has three living children and their spouses, 6 living grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren. Celebration of life and burial will be at the National Funeral Center, 7482 Lee Highway, Falls Church, Virginia.

OBITUARY

William Sherman Osburn Jr.

October 7, 1923 – July 11, 2019

National Funeral Home & Memorial Park

Show your support

Send Flowers

Add a Memory

Share Obituary

Get Reminders

Past Services

Funeral Service

Graveside Service