Joseph Osborn

Joseph “Joe”/“Joes” Randall Osborn loved the Lord with all his heart, mind and soul. Born March 17, 1961, to the late Dr. Carl F. Osborn of Silver Springs, Maryland, and Sue C. Hatcher of Knoxville, Tennessee. He lived a remarkable life and found much needed rest in Jesus on January 22, 2025.

Joe attended Mount Pisgah Academy in Asheville, North Carolina for all twelve years, and after graduation, journeyed west. A true Renaissance man, Joe held the most unique set of civilian life skills: camp counselor, construction worker, lifeguard, ski instructor, master diver, and cook-- he did it all. He held a bachelor’s and two master’s degrees. In 1986, he joined the U.S. Army as a medic in Los Angeles, California. While at AIT at Fort Sam Houston, San Antonio, he met the love of his life, Lyana “Lee” Greer. In 1989, he became a helicopter pilot and during his career, he proudly flew Blackhawks, Hueys, and Cobras. He retired in 2007, as a Chief Warrant Officer 4 and continued working with the US Government as a civil servant, most recently serving at Camp Casey in South Korea, as a Safety/Risk Management Director.

Through work and pleasure, Joe traveled to six of the seven continents and most of the continental US. His military tours included Australia, Hawaii, Alaska, Germany, Bosnia, Belgium, Macedonia, Herzegovina, Italy, Dominican Republic, Honduras, Peru, Haiti, Guatemala, El Salvador, Panama, Nicaragua, Colombia, Belize, Marshall Islands, Japan, and South Korea and the DMZ. Joe loved working in the jungles and the beautiful islands of Hawaii the most. Together with his beautiful bride of thirty-seven years, they visited incredible countries like the Bahamas, France, Spain, the United Kingdom, Austria, Czech Republic, Costa Rica, the Netherlands, Luxemburg, Liechtenstein, Mexico, Switzerland, Vietnam, and Cambodia.

Over the last decade, Joe and Lee volunteered as medical coordinators for Maranatha's Ultimate Workout Youth Mission Trip. Each summer, they organized and supported a group of doctors, nurses, and high school students who provided medical care to impoverished individuals in the Dominican Republic, Peru, Bolivia, Panama, Ecuador, Kenya, and New Mexico-- they just did their site visit for Paraguay and Brazil in December for Summer 2025! He eagerly looked forward to the trip each year, even though the sleeping conditions were tough on his body.

Dark Chocolate-lover and hot sauce enthusiast, Joe, hiked part of the Appalachian trail, visited Machu Picchu four times, scuba dived in the Great Barrier Reef, and continued eating his pancakes during 2018 Hawaii False Missile Alert. He loved the ocean; all wildlife intrinsically fascinated him. "Catfish Joe," didn't enjoy eating fish, but he sure loved fishing. He was a master of puns and had the driest sense of humor that often went over people’s heads. He famously donned Hawaiian shirts every Friday because he'd rather be on the Islands. He played the guitar and banjo beautifully and loved to sing hymns, even though he claimed he only sang best “tenor” twelve miles away. During COVID, Joe began his personal ministry, “A Joyful Noise.” Each Friday, as Sabbath began, Joe shared his favorite hymns and camp songs with his Facebook friends. He loved The Eagles, John Denver, James Taylor, Dan Fogelberg, The Wedgewood Trio and Amy Grant.

In 2012, Joe survived a massive heart attack. He described his near-death experience after he flatlined as the most peaceful and beautiful place he ever visited. His favorite Bible verse was Psalms 23, and said it perfectly described the event: “2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. 3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.”

Throughout Joe and Lee’s life together, they were oftentimes asked by other young married couples what their secret was to a happy marriage. Simply put, Joe always said he married his best friend. Joe made Mickey Mouse pancakes every Sunday for his daughter “Sasa” and loved playing guitar with his son “Big Eye.”

Joseph is preceded in death by his loving father, Dr. Carl F. Osborn, equally adventurous father-in-law, Edward C. Greer, and older sister Jami Osborn. He leaves behind his loving wife and best friend “Baby Lee;” two children, Sarah (Forrest Miller) and Josef Osborn (Madeline Cantu); mother Sue Osborn; mother-in-law Diana Greer; his brothers Dr. John (Laurie) Osborn, Dr. James (Amy Jo) Osborn; brothers-in-laws, Edward (Suzie) Greer, Frank (Leeta) Greer, and Darryl (Amanda) Greer; and many loving nieces and nephews.

Let the record state that his mother “never” forced Joe to wear matching clothes with his younger brother Jim.

A private viewing will be held for the family. Services will take place Friday, February 28, 2025 at 10:30 AM at Scenic Hills Seventh-Day Adventist Church, 11223 Bandera Rd, San Antonio, TX 78250. There will be a funeral procession after church going to Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery for a 1:15 PM Committal Service with Army honors. The family requests colorful attire, no black. Hawaiian shirts or military service uniforms if you have one.

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation in memory of Joe at Scenic Hills Christian Academy Athletics Program or Maranatha Ultimate Workout.