Obituary

DR. ALLAN OSBORNE, lost his battle with kidney disease January 17, 2014, just a few months shy of his 90th birthday.
Born April 15, 1924, the son of Carl and Ethel Osborne of Ephrata, Allan had calculated the number of times his birthday would coincide with Easter in his lifetime, counterbalancing the fact that his birthday is shared with tax day.

The oldest child of three, his family moved often; his father seeking work as a ranch hand in order to provide for his family, a work ethic that Allan learned early. By the age of 13, he was thinning apples in his father's orchard for 12.5 cents an hour, and was the thinning boss at 15. He also made up to 500 apple boxes a day, a feat that would earn a whopping $3.25. By the time he was 17, he had enough experience to manage an orchard himself. His mother, a Leavenworth area school teacher, was his inspiration, laying the foundation for a life-long pursuit of education. Allan committed numerous poems to memory and could recite them flawlessly, giving his mother the credit for his love of literature. Allan graduated with honors from Leavenworth High School in 1941.

With $100 in his pocket, he began his college career at the University of Washington while working odd jobs including at a local shipyard building wooden minesweepers for 95 cents per hour. Allan immersed himself in campus activities, belonging to several fraternities and acting as stunt chairman for the Malamutes, the Husky Cheer Squad. Always at the top of his class, he discovered that he need only attend classes on test days. After garnering a perfect score on a particularly difficult chemistry exam, his envious classmates threw him into the campus pond, Navy ROTC uniform and all. This pivotal moment may have been when he realized that chemistry was his calling.

After being commissioned in 1944, Allan found himself across the equator as a WWII Naval Officer in the South Seas, second in command of an amphibious landing ship. Upon his return from the war and after the completion of a B.S. in chemistry, he immediately began pursuing a graduate degree. He was forced to interrupt his education once again in order to serve his country, this time in Korea. Undaunted by setbacks, Dr. Osborne completed his doctorate, earning a Ph.D. in organic chemistry in 1955.

Dr. Osborne’s long and nationally recognized professional career included over thirty years’ experience in all phases of electronic materials, processes, design and manufacturing of printed wiring boards and assemblies. He received numerous awards, obtained hundreds of patents and authored many technical papers and is recognized in “American Men of Science”. After serving in World War II and Korea, he retired as LCDR, USNR in 1984, and at the time of his professional retirement in 1992, he had the distinction of being considered one of the ten most knowledgeable people in his field.

After the death of his wife Kathy, and winning a battle with kidney cancer, he remarried. Allan and Dee Holliday Osborne have celebrated life together since 2001.

Dr. Osborne had six children, although sadly, lost two of his four sons. He also has seven grandchildren and six great grandchildren, nieces and nephews, all who loved him dearly.

Allan enjoyed gardening, reading, and avidly working his crossword puzzles (in pen) and genealogy. He was a charming, intelligent and flirtatious man. His quick wit and diverse knowledge made him an engaging conversationalist. He was the nemesis of many newspaper editors, as his love for philology drove him to fight passionately against the misuse and abuse of the English language. Among his many legacies he leaves the pursuit of higher education, attaining excellence in all that he pursued, and an insatiable curiosity. This truly remarkable man will be greatly missed

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Dr. Allan Osborne, of Mill Creek, WA, died Friday Jan. 17, 2014, just a few months shy of his 90th birthday. Preceded in death by his parents, Carl and Ethel Osborne, and his brother, Jere Osborne, son John Osborne and son Bruce Osborne, Allan is survived by his wife Ella “Dee” Holliday Osborne; sister, Louise Chervenak; children: Nigel Featherston, Laurie Clark, Douglas Osborne, Emily Furlong; step-daughters, Paula Slater Coleman, Robin Slater and Cathy Slate; and many grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

Allan was born April 15, 1924 in Gloyd, WA. He grew up in Leavenworth. His father operated an apple orchard and his mother taught elementary school. He graduated from Leavenworth High School in 1941. In 1942 he began his college career at the University of Washington and shortly after, married Katherine Parrott. In 1944 was commissioned as a naval officer, setting out for the South Seas on the USS LC1 (L) 970. Returning home in 1945, he continued his education receiving a BS in Chemistry in 1947. Lt. Osborne interrupted his final year of study to re-enter the Navy serving in the Korean War from 1950 –52. Allan married Katherine Moss of San Diego in 1952 and joined the Reserves as a training officer. He received a Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry in 1955. He retired as LCDR, USNR in 1984.

Dr. Osborne began his career as a chemical engineer at DuPont in 1955. Allan’s career involved moves to many states from one coast to the other, working for Hughes Aircraft, Autonetics, Singer Kearfott, Martin Marietta, Litton, John Fluke Mfg. and Honeywell. Dr. Osborne retired in 1992 with the distinction of being considered one of the ten most knowledgeable people in his field. His nationally recognized career and thirty years’ experience in electronic materials, processes, design and manufacturing has earned Dr. Osborne numerous awards and hundreds of patents. His career is recognized in “American Men of Science”.

In 2001, Allan married Dee Holliday, whom he met and worked with 45 years earlier. They made their home in Mill Creek where they have enjoyed visits from their children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Allan enjoyed gardening, reading, and working crossword puzzles. He has been a member of the UWAA Purple and Gold Society, IPC, American Chemical Society, the American Institute of Chemists, U.S.S. LCI National Association, Old Salts (UW WWII Navy ROTC), Military Officers Association of America, Skeptics Society, and the Naval Institute. He was active in Y Indian Guides and involved with Junior Achievement.

Allan was a charming and intelligent man. His quick wit and diverse knowledge made him an engaging conversationalist. Among his many legacies he leaves the pursuit of higher education, excellence and an insatiable curiosity.

Memorial Services will be at Valley View Bible Church, 9717 31st St. SE, Everett – Feb. 1 at 1:00 p.m. Donations may be made to Puget Sound Kidney Center, 1019 Pacific Ave. Everett, WA, 98201.