Gary Allen Osborne

January 28, 1949 - October 8, 2019

After a long battle with Parkinson’s Disease, Gary Allen Osborne (age 70), devoted husband and father, of Apple Valley passed away peacefully in his home on October 8, 2019. He is survived by his wife of 43 years, Kelly Osborne, and their two daughters and three sons: Monica Osborne (Jay Karas), Gary Osborne II, Jared Osborne (Victoria), Melanie Cantwell (Josh), and Nicholas Osborne. He had three grandchildren: Leo Karas, Joshua Cantwell, Milania Osborne, and one grandson due to be born this month, which he was anxiously awaiting. He is also survived by his sisters Joyce Hartman (Bill) and Nancy Gruenewald (Larry); and a daughter Lisa Higgins. Gary was preceded in death by his parents Henry Sanford Osborne and Cebelas “Sally” Osborne, and his brother John Osborne (Mary).

Gary was born on January 28, 1949 in Fullerton, California. His family moved to Oro Grande when he was just a year old. He lived in the High Desert his entire life. He graduated from Victor Valley High School, where he was in the marching band and played the saxophone. Gary enlisted in the Army in 1968, completing his training at Fort Ord and shipping off to Vietnam shortly thereafter. His time in Vietnam became the era that would both define and haunt his entire life. He fought in the notorious battle of Hamburger Hill in May of 1969, and was wounded on May 18. He sustained serious gunshot injuries that would affect his health for the rest of his life. Those who fought alongside him tell stories of his bravery, skill, loyalty, and commitment. He was awarded the Purple Heart medal and the Bronze Star with the V-device for heroism in ground combat. In addition he received the Army Commendation Medal, Army Air Assault Medal, Order of Saint Maurice in the rank of Centurion, and was a Distinguished Member of the 187th Infantry Regiment, among many other awards and honors. During boot camp, he distinguished himself by attaining the highest score of any member of his unit on the physical combat proficiency test, scoring 500 out of a possible 500 points.

Gary loved his country and loved to fly the American flag. He was a true patriot. While the war in Vietnam was both complicated and controversial, Gary never wavered in his pride for having been there, for having fought for the freedom of others and survived against all odds. And, truly, he was an “against all odds” kind of guy. He survived multiple terrible car accidents. Years later when he was bitten three times by a Mojave Green rattlesnake, the snake died but Gary survived. And there were countless other close calls with death. He built a business, G.A. Osborne Pipe and Supply, that first opened in 1979 in Oro Grande and later moved to Victorville on Stoddard Wells Road in 1986. He built it from the ground up with little support, and it grew and grew over the years despite many challenges and obstacles. Gary always said that God had blessed him. And given how focused he was on quietly and generously helping those in need, it’s not surprising. He was extremely charitable, consistently and proudly supporting institutions like Victory Outreach Ministry and Victorville First Assembly of God church—where he was a member for 40 years and also served as Head Usher for many years--as well as numerous other organizations and individuals. He even kept a water faucet at the business open to the public, for those who needed water. Gary thought of all the little things that made such a difference in the lives of others.

Gary was a man of action and insight. He was a leader in the community and even served for many years as President of the Victor Valley Christian School Board. But he never forgot where he came from. Gary continued to support his hometown of Oro Grande in any way he could, from ensuring that the cemetery always had a flag and flag pole to supporting various institutions including Joe Manners’ Christmas gift program. He was not a perfect man—there are no perfect men--but his heart was made of gold, and he consistently gave to others in any way he could. Most people knew him as someone who was not afraid to face anything. He was a strong and fearless man. But he was also kind and deeply sensitive. Although his own life was filled with much physical and emotional pain, he couldn’t bear to see others in need or in pain. For example, he devoted countless hours to helping veterans—whether he knew them or not—receive the benefits from Veterans Affairs that they had earned.

Gary was charming and charismatic, and he was a wonderful storyteller. He loved his family deeply. He was not an extravagant person. He needed only the simplest things in life, but he worked hard to give his family more than he had come from. He was a master of many things but a culinary master he was not. And yet he loved making his famous breakfast rice cakes for family and friends.

Family was everything to Gary, and it all began when he met Kelly Berg. In less than a year after dating, they were married in 1976. They had a very special love—one that couldn’t be broken no matter what challenge lay before or behind them. Once their five children were older Gary and Kelly loved to travel together. They went to Germany every year as well as the Hamburger Hill reunion in Tennessee among many other places. Even in the most recent years, as Parkinson’s began to slow him down, taking a toll on his speech and mobility, he still kept moving forward, until his final breath. And Kelly was by his side every step of the way; in her he found the truest and most loyal companion. Like Gary himself, the love he shared with Kelly was larger than life. He was impossibly resilient—one of those men that one thought just might live forever. We, his family, thought he was invincible indeed. And yet, at the end of the day, there is nothing more beautiful than being human. There is nothing more beautiful than living through war and pain and death and loss, and still being able to see beauty, to laugh loudly, to love fiercely, and to hope with faith beyond all possibility. What a beautiful legacy, to have done all this for 70 years.

He always said, “Expect the worst and prepare for it.” But we never expected the worst when it came to him, because he always gave us his best. He always gave us more than he had. There are so many words here, and yet not one comes close to capturing the beautiful, strong, and complicated man Gary was. Death—the sudden absence of someone in whom you saw your entire world, your entire life—is the ultimate horror, the pinnacle of all we cannot understand. And in the face of such horror, words fall short. Our world becomes a little darker, a little colder, a little less familiar. And yet even in the midst of such pain, love cries out. His life was full, and his legacy will be long. May his memory be a blessing.

Funeral services will be held at 11am on Thursday, October 17 at Victorville First Assembly of God church at 15260 Nisqualli Road. A viewing from 9-11am will precede the service. A graveside ceremony will be held at 3pm at Desert View Memorial Park.