Edwin Ray Osbon

Edwin Ray Osbon was born on October 6, 1935, in Stilwell, Oklahoma to Chester Obe Osbon and Lola E. Guess Osbon. He has two sisters, Gloria Sue Osbon Tedford, and Jessie G. Osbon Farris.

Ed attended Horn School in Stilwell; it was a two-room schoolhouse, one room was for kindergarteners through six grades, and the other room was for high schoolers. All were taught by the same teacher. After he finished his schoolwork, Ed would pay close attention to the higher grades being taught. Sometimes, he and his sisters were the only students. The same teacher would even cook a pot of beans and cornbread for the kid’s lunch. Ed learned the root words of Latin and Greek; therefore, he could tell you the meaning of a word even though he never heard it before.

Ed joined the Air Force in 1967 where he served for 22 years. The entire time he received Hazard Duty pay because his job was so dangerous. He flew 100 missions in Vietnam, 20 being combat missions. (In one instance, a supervisor and one trainee lost their lives because of a flash fire. Thank God Ed was not in the chamber at the time. His first position was as a Physiological Training Supervisor of the Attitude Chamber; this was a specialized enclosed space that would simulate the low air pressure and reduced oxygen levels found at very high altitudes. These chambers are primarily used in aerospace and piolet training. Consequently, he trained all the early astronauts and others. Because of his work and contributions to aerospace medicine, he appeared in many newspapers, on television, in magazines, and his picture today is in the Science Museum in Los Angeles, California. Also, Ed became the Airman of the Year.

Ed met and married the love of his life Betty Jean who was by his side every minute. To this union their son Chester was born, affectionately known as Ted by his family. They traveled the world as a family and experienced all of Ed’s accomplishments.

Ed had a very high IQ. At this time, he did not have a degree, but he was sent to Berkley Medical University, in Houston, Texas to take a six-week course that at the time was only available to doctors and those with a PHD. One doctor even lost his slot to Ed. He was also sent to an Engineering University where he was offered a position.

Ed was a very accomplished man who was an important part of or country’s aerospace history and an important part of countless young servicemen’s careers.

Ed was preceded in death by his parents Chester and Lola, and 3 grandchildren that was Christopher Cox, Matthew Cox and Alex Reis.

He is survived by his wife Betty; his two daughters, Brenda Jean and Miranda Sue; and his son Chester. His two sisters Gloria Sue Tedford and Jessie Gurtrude Farris; as well as 3 grandchildren, Monique and Fran Reis and Jeremiah Cox. Plus 3 great grandchildren; Dakota Cox, Braden Cox and Joshua Humphries.