Arthur DeWitt Osborne Jr.

Arthur DeWitt Osborne, Jr., age 87, of Columbus, Georgia, passed away on Tuesday, September 10, 2024. Services are currently pending but are planned to occur over Thanksgiving week at Pleasant Cemetery in Nashville, Georgia, with full military honors.

Arthur, affectionately known as “Honey” by his grandchildren, was a devoted husband, father, brother, grandfather, and great-grandfather. Born on a farm in Manning, South Carolina, he moved with his family to Nashville, Georgia in 1940. He attended New Lois Elementary School, Nashville High School, and was part of the first graduating class of Berrien High School. Arthur’s pursuit of higher education led him to attend nine colleges, earning a master’s degree in Educational Psychology.

Arthur joined the military in 1958. He was known as “DeWitt” in Nashville and “Art” in the Army. He met his beloved wife, Diane Cox, on a blind date in Columbia, South Carolina. They shared over 60 years of marriage and had three sons: Artie, and twins Alan and Andy. Tragically, Artie passed away at age 37. Alan is a Technical Manager at Solventum Corporation and Andy is an Anesthesiologist.

Art served his country with distinction for 20 years as an Airborne Ranger in the 101st Airborne Division. In two deployments to Vietnam, his bravery was recognized with multiple Bronze Star Medals for heroism in ground combat and the Purple Heart Medal for wounds received in action. Afterwards, he spent considerable time at Fort Benning as a Tactics Instructor and in the development and evaluation of training for various military units.

After retiring from the Army as a Lieutenant Colonel in 1978, Art continued to contribute to military research at the ‘Army Research Institute for the Behavior and Social Sciences’ at Fort Benning.

Art was a great family man, always willing to help his family members in any way he could. He is survived by his wife, Diane Cox Osborne; his sons, Alan Osborne and wife Valerie, and Andy Osborne; his grandchildren, Carrie Hamm, Emily Osborne, Andrew Osborne, Aaron Osborne, and Vanessa Osborne; his great-grandchild, Ethan Osborne Hamm; his brother, Dorian Osborne, and wife Ollene; and his sister, Dianne Gorman.

Art’s legacy of love, dedication, and service will be cherished by all who knew him.