James was born on October 28, 1937, to the late J.A. "Ossie" and Gearldine (Parker) Osborne in Lubbock, Texas. He was a 1956 graduate of Lubbock High School and attended Texas Tech University where he earned a BS degree in 1960. He was also a U.S. Army veteran. His career in grocery
management spanned fifty-one years with Furr’s and Albertsons the majority of which was spent in Lubbock and Santa Fe, New Mexico. After retiring, he returned to work as a broker for Merck pharmacy products and serviced stores in West Texas and Eastern New Mexico. He was later appointed to the Lubbock County Appraisal Review Board for which he served six years.
James married his high school sweetheart and the love of his life, Gaither Hartsfield, in 1956 and they enjoyed fifty-one years of marriage. For the past twenty-nine years, he was an elder of the South Plains Church of Christ and the last remaining charter member of the Redbud Lions Club. He was a life member of Lions Clubs International and the District Governor of District 2-T2 for 2014-15. James served on the board of directors for the Lubbock Eye Bank and Texas Girls and Boys Ranch. In 2016, he traveled to Washington, DC as part of the Texas South Plains Honor Flight. He was inducted into the Lubbock Boys and Girls Club Hall of Fame in 2019.
James Osborne was recognized as a servant leader in every aspect of his life. The ripple effect of his
kindness and service to others will continue to make this world a better place. He was preceded in
death by his wife, Gaither, and siblings, Billie Lou Hubbard and Ronnie Osborne. He is survived by
his daughters, Lee Ann Corbin and husband Tod of Atlanta, Texas, and Kerri Johnson of Lubbock,
Texas; three grandchildren, Erika Paige Mills and husband Charlie of Gonzales, Texas, Jared Corbin of Carrollton, Texas, and Presley Angiel and her husband Brian of Framingham, Massachusetts; and
two great-grandchildren, Colbi and Teddy Mills.
Visitation will be from 5:30 to 8:00 pm Friday, January 28 at Resthaven Funeral Home. Memorial
Celebration of Life services will be 2:00 pm on Saturday, January 29 at South Plains Church of
Christ.
Memorials may be sent to Texas Girls and Boys Ranch, Texas Lions Camp, or South Plains Church of Christ Benevolence Ministry of Lubbock, 6802 Elkhart Ave, Lubbock, TX 79424.
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