Robert O. Osborn

Robert Otto Osborn, 91 years old, passed peacefully on May 19,  2024 with his beloved Geraldine at his bedside.

ROO was born on November 2,1932 to Dr. Jesse Osborn and May Brown Osborn and spent his boyhood in the south side Tower Grove neighborhood that remained his home for most of his life. He attended Horace Mann School and graduated from Roosevelt High School in 1950.

Following his father’s wishes he briefly attended Cornell University on an engineering scholarship before enlisting in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. He was stationed at Fort Bliss in El Paso, Texas as a communications instructor.

After his service years he returned to St. Louis and used the GI bill to attend Saint Louis University to pursue his passion for politics and political understanding, and found his life-long love in fellow SLU student Geraldine Frances Bryan. In addition to further acknowledgment during retirement, Bob also returned to St. Louis university to acquire his master's in political science in 1970. 

Upon his graduation in June of 1956, Robert and Geraldine married and began a family. He pursued his life long dream and interest in St. Louis politics and a career as a civil servant. He served under Mayors Tucker, Cervantes, Poelker, Conway and Schoemehl, at St. Louis Lambert Airport under Colonel Griggs and as a lobbyist for the City of St Louis in Jefferson City for many years.

In retirement, Bob continued to enjoy weightlifting, walking and political engagement. He won medals in Senior Olympic events well into his 80s and walked beloved dogs miles on a regular basis. Bob also invested himself during retirement in the Korean War Veterans Association of St. Charles County Chapter 186, including lobbying on their behalf. He loved the Pachyderms, his ROMEO club and supported numerous charitable and civic causes.

Robert is survived by his wife of almost 68 years, Geraldine, his three children Joseph Osborn (Pittsburgh, PA) Julie (Francis) Murphy (Cobden, IL) and John (Dawn) Osborn (Schertz, TX) and beloved grandchildren Sean, Colin, Jessica, Jaime and Kody and great granddaughter Mya.

Robert was a passionate and brilliant man, full of high ideals and strong opinions, who loved to pun and bowled 300 games more than once. He became a gentle, humorous and sweet man in his last years.

He will be missed by all who knew and loved him. His family is grateful for all those who shared such kindness and compassion at Mother of Good Counsel Home and Garden Villas of O’Fallon.

Visitation to take place at Baue Funeral Home Cave Springs on Tuesday, May 28 from 4pm to 8pm. Funeral mass at Immaculate Conception of Dardenne to take place the following day at 10:00 am followed by a graveside service with full military honors at St. Charles Memorial Gardens at 11:30 am.

Commemorative donations can be made to Immaculate Conception of Dardenne Catholic Church and Mother of Good Counsel Home.