Billy Joe Osborne

Billy Joe Osborne was born November 7, 1926 in Olustee, Oklahoma to Grady and Dess (Grant) Osborne. He grew up on the family farm Southeast of Olustee and attended school in Olustee. He married Betty Bates, December 9, 1944 in Mangum, Oklahoma. He worked for Ralph Phillips at Phillips Food Store in Olustee as a butcher. Bill and Betty moved to McAllen, Texas, where Bill worked as a butcher for a short time before they moved back to Olustee. Bill worked for White’s Auto in Altus before going to work for C. C. Henry, managing, and later buying the service station in Olustee (now known as Tom’s Station). He eventually owned both service stations in Olustee. Bill then entered the ministry and began preaching in 1958 at the Eldorado Church of Christ. He and other men of the congregation designed and built the existing church building and parsonage in 1959. The Osborne’s then moved to Spearman, Texas in 1969, where he preached at the Spearman Church of Christ for 10 years. In 1979, they returned to Jackson County where Bill became the minister of the Elm and Hudson Church of Christ until his retirement in 1992. Bill served as “interim” preacher for the Eldorado Church of Christ for 17 years and was currently preaching at the Olustee Church of Christ.
Bill was a Bible scholar, able to quote scripture from memory on any subject. He and Betty enjoyed over 50 years of service to the church. Bill always said “I have the best boss in the world – I work for the Lord.” He participated in revival meetings all over Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, West Virginia and South Dakota, spoke in many lectureships and preached on the radio for 30 years. He was involved in mission work including a trip to Melbourne, Australia. He made two trips to the Bible Land. For the past thirteen years, from 1998 to the present, Bill worked in many capacities for Kincannon Funeral Home. He preached many funerals during the years from 1958 to 2011. Bill enjoyed the outdoors, quail hunting, fishing, working in his yard and growing his garden. He enjoyed sharing his tomatoes and hot peppers. Bill passed away Friday, January 6, 2012 at Southwestern Medical Center in Lawton, Oklahoma. Funeral services will be 2:00 p.m., Monday, January 9, 2012 at Elm and Hudson Church of Christ with Mark Hackatt and Tom Bailey officiating. Burial will follow services at the Altus City Cemetery under the direction of Kincannon Funeral Home. He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Howard Osborne, and Virgil Osborne; one granddaughter, Sara Kasey Osborne; two sisters-in-law, Rosalie Osborne, Ouida Jho Osborne and two brothers-in-law, Milton and W.C. Bates. Bill is survived by his wife of 67 years, Betty; a son, J. D. Osborne and wife, Peggy, of Grand Prairie, Texas; a brother, James Arthur Osborne of Gruver, TX; a sister, Norma Lee Drury of Olustee, OK; three grandsons, Cary Osborne of Grand Prairie, Texas, Shane Osborne and wife, Tami, of Eldorado, OK, and Tj Osborne of Carrollton, Texas; three great-grandchildren, Cameron Osborne, Caitlyn Osborne, and Harris Osborne; two step great-grandchildren, Sheila Embrey and Misty Lewis; three great-grandchildren, Jessica Lewis, Jordan Lewis and Dakota Embrey; many nieces, nephews, and a host of friends. The Osborne family will greet friends from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. Sunday afternoon at Kincannon Funeral Home.